Medvedev does not want to practice much with Alcaraz
"The training session was great, but hopefully we don't do this together very often," Medvedev told the ATP on August 7. "Because I hope to see him in semi-finals, finals of tournaments. You don't practice every day against your big opponent. Once, two or three times a year is fine."
Before training together in Toronto, Canada, Medvedev and Alcaraz practiced at Indian Wells, USA in March of this year, also at the ATP 1000 North America. In that tournament, two players went to the final. Alcaraz won the title after defeating Medvedev 6-3, 6-2. Both hope the same thing repeats in the Rogers Cup. Alcaraz is in the same branch as Holger Rune, Stefanos Tsitsipas or Jannik Sinner, and Medvedev is in the other branch with Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev or Taylor Fritz.
After a practice set, Medvedev highly appreciated the junior - who is considered the strongest in the world today. "Alcaraz can score winners from every shot, he's a great talent," said the Russian tennis player. "Sometimes he misses because he's not in the best shape, but overall it's still a good training session."
Alcaraz arrived at the Rogers Cup with excitement after the Wimbledon championship, where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. If he wins the Rogers Cup, the Spaniard will definitely be seeded at the US Open, due to a large point gap over Nole. This year, Alcaraz has had six ATP championships, winning 47 and losing just four. Medvedev also has five titles in 2023, including the Masters in Miami and Rome.
The ATP 1000 Rogers Cup was held in two cities in Canada. This year, the men's tournament was held in Toronto, while the women's tournament took place in Montreal. At the last time the ATP Rogers Cup took place in Toronto in 2021, Medvedev won. Alcaraz attended the tournament for the first time last year, losing in the opening match against Tommy Paul. That also makes him not have to defend many points in this year's tournament.
Medvedev and Alcaraz are scheduled to play a match in the Rogers Cup tomorrow, August 9. Medvedev meets Matteo Arnaldi and Alcaraz faces Ben Shelton or Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
