'Stefanos Tsitsipas should win a Major before Daniil Medvedev,' says Navratilova

Players born in the 90s are yet to make a name for themselves at Majors, even though the oldest among them have already turned 30. Mainly thanks to Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, these players are yet to earn tennis glory at the most notable events. Their only title came last year at the US Open when Dominic Thiem grabbed the opportunity and became the first player born after 1988 with a Major crown! There has been an incredible group of players born between 1996-1999, and they have already secured the Masters 1000 trophies and a place among the top-10. Still, they are yet to take the next step and dethrone the tennis legends from the Major pedestal, failing to beat Nadal and Djokovic and still waiting for that elusive trophy. It should come in the future for many of them, and Martina Navratilova backs Stefanos Tsitsipas to achieve that before Daniil Medvedev. The legendary player believes that the Greek has a more complete game than the Russian and the tools to go all the way and become a Major winner.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev have both lost their first Major finals.

Players born in 1996 or after have played in three Major finals so far, losing those in five sets and still waiting for the first title. At the US Open 2019, Daniil Medvedev pushed Rafael Nadal to the limits in a 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 defeat after almost five hours! Nadal was two sets to love ahead and with a break in the third set before Daniil started to climb back, stealing the third set and setting up a decider in what could have been the most significant turnaround at the US Open in 70 years. Nonetheless, Nadal survived the fifth set's opening service game and moved over the top with a double break, barely taking the victory home to fall to the ground in disbelief.

At the last year's US Open, Alexander Zverev wasted two sets to love advantage against Dominic Thiem, serving for the victory in the decider and still finishing runner-up in the first Major final with two players born in the 90s. At the recently ended Roland Garros, Stefanos Tsitsipas had a massive opportunity in the final against Novak Djokovic, playing on a high level to open two sets to love advantage. Using his vast experience, Novak turned the scoreboard and won the following three sets in dominant style to claim the second Parisian crown and leave Stefanos empty-handed. The young guns will have another chance to claim the first Major crown at the upcoming US Open in September, with Djokovic and Nadal standing as their primary targets.

"The obvious answer would be Medvedev since he's ranked second. Still, I would go with Tsitsipas. I believe his game is more complete, and I think he has the tools. We will see," Martina Navratilova said.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3yh5ueB