Having rewatched the Medvedev matches over a couple of times, I thought I would note some interesting comparisons in wins over Nole, Rafa and Dominik
In the two key weekend matches, curiously similar set scores, kind of symmetrical, but they tell a tale, too.
Medvedev over Nadal, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
Medvedev over Thiem, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
In both those matches, the losers each lost a terribly unlucky opportunity to break Daniil. Rafa was a victim of a horrible shank by Medvedev that led to the greatest topspin lob ever and Thiem had a mere simple tap at the net that he unaccountably pushed wide.
Before the crucial breaks in the third set of each match, Nadal and Thiem both had five and three points respectively to hold serve and didn't before patient Daniil finally broke them. In all the matches, Medvedev was the epitome of clutch, breaking Rafa when he was serving for the match and keeping the pressure constantly on Thiem's serve in the deciding set.
Three times on key break points against Rafa and Thiem, Medvedev sneaked to the net to put away an unexpected volley.
But where Daniil was most artful was in how he forced his opponents to throw away their game plan (Nole and Rafa) or reach exhaustion trying to continue to execute it (Thiem). Nole, not looking that fit to begin with, gave up early at 3-2 in the first set of a 3 and 3 loss; Rafa went "no mas" late at around 4-3 in the third set. I don't mean they tanked or quit. I mean they just got mentally and physically tired of playing Medvedev's maddeningly patient, marvelously constructed game. At each of those points in the respective matches, Nole and Rafa began to go for lines more aggressively, began to serve and volley, began to shorten points; in brief, trying to desperately conserve energy....and each just went further downhill in the process. Thiem is more subtle; he doesn't change his game much, but he does look like his goose is cooked (watch all three of the victims' body language in the final sets and compare them to Daniil). When Medvedev finally breaks Thiem for the key turning point in the third set at 3-2, Thiem has served 29 points in the set compared to only ten for Medvedev. Dominic is game but he is gassed.
Daniil's superpower is to wear his opponent down to the point that they mentally give up the ghost or nearly collapse in the process.