Daniil Medvedev says he will be 'sad' to see Andy Murray retire from tennis - 'An inspiration of mine'

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 28/02/2024 at 21:14 GMT

Andy Murray could retire from tennis this year after revealing he likely won’t play on beyond the summer. Daniil Medvedev has given his view on Murray's decision and says he will be "sad" to see him leave the sport. Medvedev has also reflected on Jannik Sinner's impressive start to the season and why the Italian is "definitely the big one right now" on the ATP Tour.

Daniil Medvedev has hailed Andy Murray as an “inspiration” and says it will be “sad when he retires” from tennis.

Murray, 36, could call time on his career this year after revealing he likely won’t play on beyond the summer.

That could mean he will play his last tournament in Paris at the Olympic Games, which he has won twice.

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Asked about Murray's announcement, Medvedev said: "First of all, he's a fun guy, a great guy to be around. That's always a great quality in life.

“For sure he's an inspiration of mine because I remember when I was just going up the rankings, that's the moment when he was winning Slams, playing finals against Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal] and Novak [Djokovic]. So the 'Big Four'.

"It's going to be sad when he retires. Even I'm definitely not sure that he's going to stop this year.

"Wimbledon is a big tournament, maybe Wimbledon and then stop. But while he's here, it's going to be fun. [When] he's not here, I'm sure he's going to find a good spot in his life after tennis."

Murray says he will ‘likely not play past this summer’, aims to finish at Wimbledon or Olympics

Medvedev has also said Jannik Sinner has proved he is the “big one” right now on the ATP Tour, but he is not “scared” by the prospect of facing him.

Sinner has enjoyed a dream start to the 2024 season, winning all 12 matches he has played to lift the Australian Open title and triumph in Rotterdam.

He also finished 2023 by helping Italy win the Davis Cup and reaching the final of the Nitto ATP Finals.

• Murray says he is 'likely not going to play' beyond summer
• Medvedev beats Sonego to continue Dubai title defence

Along the way he’s beaten Novak Djokovic in three of their last four meetings and overcome Medvedev in their last four successive matches, including in the Australian Open final.

“He just plays better,” said Medvedev about Sinner.

“Maybe the first match in Beijing [in October 2023] when he managed to beat me for the first time, he mixed up some things comparing to before. Then in the next matches I just feel like he plays better than before.

“Before the matches were tough when I won them, but he could miss here and there, break point, miss a first serve, a forehand straightaway. Now it doesn't happen anymore. Even if he does, he's going to make a good shot. For me that happened. He just started playing better.

“Mentally, I honestly don't feel like I'm scared or anything like this. It's just you know before the match it's a tough match. He's playing very good.

“You need to be at your absolute best. All the shots have to be perfect to try to win the match. Even that could be not enough, like it was in Australia.

“That's a force that big tennis players have, and he's definitely the big one right now.”

Sinner is currently ranked at No. 3 in the world rankings behind Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Medvedev is one spot behind at No. 4, having lost to Sinner in the final of the Australian Open.

The Russian led by two sets to love against Sinner, just as he did in the 2022 final when he let a commanding lead slip against Rafael Nadal.

Australian Open final highlights: Sinner stuns Medvedev in comeback to win first Grand Slam

Asked whether the loss to Nadal was a “lesson” for him, Medvedev said: “For sure I'm still disappointed because that one was close. Closer than the Jannik match.

“Also mentally with the crowd and this and that. Somewhere in the match I really felt like I'm there, not that I have to win it, but I was really close in my mind.

“Not sure it's even a lesson. I would prefer not to have this lesson. But in life not everything goes as you prefer. So this happened. I have to go on from it. I would say I hope that it was a lesson and I can take anything from it. Even if not, I just have to forget it and go.”

Medvedev is defending his title in Dubai this week and reached the quarter-finals with victory over Lorenzo Sonego.

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