Back-to-back finals for Medvedev, sets up Qatar final against Murray

As Iga Swiatek extended her impressive streak against Coco Gauff in Dubai, so Daniil Medvedev did against Felix Auger-Aliassime in Qatar.

The former world No 1 now has six wins over the Canadian – wrapping up this one 6-4, 7-6 (7) to set up a meeting in the final against Andy Murray.

“Today and yesterday the matches were super-close,” Medvedev reflected in his post-match interview. “Confidence matters, he had two set points. I managed to stay in there and it was enough to win. Very high level match.”

Medvedev: Murray is playing better and better

Medvedev is a master on hard courts, of course, winning 15 of his 16 singles titles thus far on the surface.

And he also holds a winning record against Murray. Both their previous matches have been on hard courts, and Murray has not even taken a set – Medvedev won in Brisbane in 2019 7-5, 6-2, and then in Miami last year 6-4, 6-2.

But Medvedev knows that the Murray he faces on Saturday – even one who has played 12 sets of tennis already this week – will be a different proposition.

“It’s unbelievable. As soon as someone arrives at match point, that’s where the match starts. I have to be at my best from first to last point tomorrow to try to beat him. He’s a legend. I feel like what could be surprising, he’s playing better and better – not only here, but in general.

“I’m really happy to face him tomorrow.”

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