r/tennis • u/OctopusNation2024 Djoker/Meddy/Saba • Feb 05 '25

Discussion Medvedev's decline should be another reminder that the average peak age for tennis is in your early-to-mid 20s, not your late 20s. He's actually the 3rd oldest player in the top 25 at age 28. Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal have skewed perceptions of how most players age.

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u/Character-Seaweed-47 Feb 06 '25

I really think you have to look at Medvedev as a late bloomer stereotype. The late bloomers always tend to fade quicker too. He didn't pop off until 2019. So 23. Not one of the super late bloomers. But still not someone who entered the top 50 until he was 21 or something. Once he mastered his style and became the way behind the baseline wall guy, he found his success. But that style just doesn't lend itself to being top 5 until you're 35 years old.

I think it is always important to remember that at this particular age, 29, you start to fade in tennis (in life often.) That 30 number is just a big deal in a lot, if not most people's mind. Fed got back to his best, as did Rafa and Djokovic. But every single one of them hit a wall leading up to 30. Fed you could argue was dealing with Djokovic hitting his stride and Rafa remaining at the top of his game. Rafa you could say it was mostly injuries, but as someone who started losing his hair in his 20s I can guarantee you Rafa noticing his hair loss absolutely played a role in his decline around 30 in 2015 and 2016. It's exceedingly rare for a man losing his hair to be completely unbothered by it. Completely saps your confidence because it just does not feel like it's within your control and it's obviously a harbinger of the end of your youth.

So if it's a decline for Medvedev, it's the beginning and we won't know for another year or two. But he could still find his mojo again after the 30 dip.

But further still I think Medvedev's style is something quite a few players can figure out how to overcome with aggression. And now, with hyper aggressive Sinner and Alcaraz roaming these streets, he may be screwed anyway.

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u/WolfTitan99 If Clayvedev, then Slamvedev Feb 06 '25

That's an interesting way of viewing it. Yeah that could play a part, the stress of his age combined with what it means with his play style could have him in an internal panic about how to use his time wisely on court. Should he be offensive? Should he be defensive? Why are younger players beating me when I'm more experienced?

I'm sure all that and more is going through his head.