French Open 2023: Alex Corretja expects 'genius' Daniil Medvedev and 'machine' Holger Rune to impress

Alex Corretja has described Daniil Medvedev as a “genius” and Holger Rune as a «machine» — and thinks both will be tough to beat at the French Open. Medvedev won the first clay title of his career in impressive fashion as he beat Rune in the Italian Open final at the weekend. Ad The result means that Medvedev, who once said he hated clay, will be the second seed for the French Open behind world No.

1 Carlos Alcaraz. Roland-Garros'Alcaraz fractionally ahead of Djokovic' — Henman on French Open6 HOURS AGO “He is unique,” said Eurosport expert Corretja about Medvedev. “He is someone that you don't know what to think is on his mind because he is saying things when maybe he feels different things.

I think in his mind he's playing with the mind of everyone else, with the opponent, with the crowds. I think he's a genius, honestly. “He is just definitely someone who is so tough to beat.

He now knows how to play different on clay. He's hitting that forehand much harder than before, and his backhand is always deep, but he is coming a little bit closer from the baseline. He defends very well.

“I'm sure that playing against him best of five is not going to be any easy. He has time to do different things and he's got the patience. You need to be there for many hours to beat him, so you need to play very well if you want to be the best of five.” Medvedev said after his win in Rome that he is “feeling great” as he prepares for a shot at the French Open, where he made the quarter-finals in 2021 and fourth round last year.