You can't hit through him! "Human backboard" Daniil Medvedev bests Novak Djokovic in dazzling Dubai exchange

Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev are two of the hardest players to hit through on the ATP Tour. Each presents their own unique ability to scramble and make opponents hit an extra shot, or two, or in some cases, too many to count.

On Friday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the Grand Slam champions earned themselves a nomination for point of the year. Up a set and a break, Medvedev served into the deuce court to begin a 27-shot rally. After trading several shots, the 2021 US Open winner mishit a forehand. Though Djokovic cracked an inside-in forehand bullet off the short ball, an outstretched Medvedev replied with a deep forehand slice.

Sensing a need for change a couple strikes later, Djokovic brought Medvedev forward with a backhand drop shot. It had a little too much air, allowing the Russian to go for the re-drop. The world No. 1 showed off his wheels, sliding technique and court awareness with a terrific backhand lob stab that forced Medvedev back on the defensive.

The 25-year-old played a backhand up the middle, and though Djokovic was perfectly positioned, his forehand volley sat up too much. He read Medvedev's forehand response, but after making a backhand volley, it left enough court open for the No. 3 seed to end the point with a backhand pass up the line.

"Meddy has become a human backboard. This is an incredible exchange." reacted Jan-Michael Gambill on Tennis Channel. "It's like that ball sticks to his racquet a second longer than other players. And he's able to just put back in the court. Midway through the forehand, the underspin kept him alive. Astounding."

Medvedev would go on to put an end to Djokovic's 15-0 season start with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, snapping the Serbian's 20-match win streak. The victory pushed his own unbeaten run up to 13 matches and on Saturday, Medvedev will bid for a third title in three weeks when he battles defending champion and friend Andrey Rublev.