Daniil Medvedev Says It Will Be “Almost Impossible” to Match Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in 2026

SME News UK. Former world No.1 praises dominant duo after historic 2025 seasonDaniil Medvedev believes the rest of the ATP Tour faces an enormous challenge in 2026, claiming it would be “almost impossible” to match the level of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner if the pair maintain their form from last season.Alcaraz and Sinner dominated men’s tennis in 2025, winning a combined 14 titles and sweeping all four Grand Slam tournaments, with two majors each. Their consistency and superiority were reflected in the year-end ATP rankings, where Alcaraz finished No.1 and Sinner No.2 — holding more than double the ranking points of third-placed Alexander Zverev.Speaking ahead of the new season, Medvedev acknowledged the growing gap between the leading duo and the rest of the field.> “They are better than the rest,” Medvedev said. “Their ball power is superior, they move with the same intensity as everyone else, and they serve brilliantly. If they maintain the consistency they showed last year, it will be almost impossible for anyone to reach their level.”The 29-year-old Russian added that exposure may be the only way to challenge them.> “The important thing is to face them as many times as possible. If you face them 10 times, maybe you can beat them once.”Tough Head-to-Head RecordsMedvedev did not face either Alcaraz or Sinner during the 2025 season, but his recent head-to-head record underlines their dominance. He has won just one of his last seven meetings against Alcaraz and one of his last nine against Sinner.Medvedev’s Challenging 2025 SeasonThe former US Open champion endured a difficult 2025 campaign, winning only one match across all four Grand Slam tournaments and slipping out of the ATP top 10. His struggles led to a split with long-time coach Gilles Cervara.Medvedev found renewed momentum late in the year, capturing his first title in over two years at the Almaty Open in October. That victory helped him regain confidence, though he ended the season ranked 13th.He has since assembled a new coaching team, working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke.Reflecting on his progress, Medvedev said:> “I improved my performance in the final stretch of last year, and it’s important that I’ve kept the team I started with a few months ago. They are happy with my playing style and focus on small details to make me better.”