Medvedev and Sinner go down in quarters of Terra Wortmann Open

In a week of upsets in tennis, the trend continued with Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner losing in the quarterfinals of the Terra Wortmann Open. Medvedev hasn’t been in his best form recently. But Sinner’s loss might cost him for much longer than one match.

Top-seeded Medvedev lost to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut. Medvedev shouldn’t feel too badly about the loss overall as Bautista Agut has been a good player on the ATP circuit for some time. Still, the 35-year-old Spaniard defeating the Russian in straight sets shouldn’t help Medvedev feel good about his chances at Wimbledon.

For whatever reason, Medvedev, an octopus of a player who can hit winners at all angles and whose shots seem to come from anywhere, doesn’t do nearly as well on grass and on clay as he does on hardcourts. He is the kind of player currently that will do well in the first parts of a year and then in the later parts, but the clay and grass in between? Not so much.

Medvedev and Sinner lose in quarterfinals at Terra Wortmann Open

On Friday, Bautista Agut dominated long rallies but also used his drop shot to near perfection. While Medvedev does have the most wins on the ATP tour this year (41), he hasn’t won a title since the ATP Masters in Miami in early April. Most of the reason for this is he has simply been outplayed, just as he was by Bautista Agut at the Terra Wortmann Open.

Fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner hasn’t had the best run of late either lately. But worse than being down 5-7 0-2 to world number 48 Alexander Bublik was that Sinner was forced to retire with an adductor muscle injury. Sinner, it should be noted, was being thoroughly outplayed by Bublik prior to the injury.

That said, Sinner’s injury could cost him a chance to play at Wimbledon. Bouncing back in a bit over a week from a leg injury would be a tremendous fete for the next major. It’s possible, but not probable, for Sinner.