Medvedev downs Zverev to secure semi-final spot in ATP Finals
The Russian saved two set points in the first set with one break in the second securing victory
Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic
Daniil Medvedev secured his place in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals as he battled past Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7), 6-4 on Wednesday.
In a scrappy match, the world No 3 saved two set points in the first-set tiebreak and then snatched one break at the end of the second set to make it two wins out of two in the Red Group, enough to see him through to the last four.
Medvedev extended his lead in their head to head record to 11-7, including five wins out of six in 2023 and he is now assured of a place in the last four. Zverev must win his last round-robin match against Andrey Rublev, who is already out, to have a chance to qualify. Medvedev plays Carlos Alcaraz (1-1) in the other match. If Alcaraz wins in two, he will qualify and burry Zverev’s last chances.
“I felt like I started very well,” Medvedev said on court. “I felt him a little bit off, so I thought let’s go for the double break, then he started playing better and I started playing worse for two, three games. I’m happy I managed to regroup. Just happy that I was more crucial in the endings of the sets.
“I’m generally happy with my level and looking forward to the semis already.”
Medvedev saves two set points to take opener
Medvedev began in stunning style, breaking Zverev in the opening game thanks to two brilliant backhand passes. The Russian’s game was flowing nicely and he extended his lead to 3-1.
Zverev dug in to hold serve and stay close and his persistence was rewarded when Medvedev suddenly lost his rhythm in the sixth game, double-faulting and making mistakes to hand the break back.
Both men enjoyed comfortable service games from that point on and it headed to a tiebreak. Zverev jumped out to a 4-1 lead, thumping forehands into the corners.
The German missed an easy volley to let Medvedev back in at 4-2 and he levelled at 5-5 when Zverev missed a lob off a drop shot. A wayward smash from the Russian gave Zverev set point but the German then produced a horror-show of a forehand into the bottom of the net. A big serve earned him another but Medvedev saved it with a big serve to make it 7-7. Another forehand error gave Medvedev a first set point, on the German’s serve, and he netted a backhand volley to hand the Russian the set, 9-7, after 62 minutes.
All seven of Zverev’s previous wins in their matches had come when he’s won the first set, a tough mental battle to overcome.
Both men continued to be strong behind their serves, with Zverev trying to force the issue, more often than not, even managing a laugh when he completely missed an attempted tweener.
Medvedev had the advantage of serving first but an under-hit drop shot handed Zverev a break point at 4-4. He couldn’t take it – missing a backhand – and Medvedev shut the door.
At 5-4, Medvedev won the first point on the Zverev serve with a smash off a Zverev smash, which turned into a lob, and the German netted the volley. Medvedev slammed a backhand pass at 30-30 to set up match point and when Zverev shanked a forehand long, the match was his.
Zverev: “I’ll be No 1 Daniil Medvedev fan for a change”
Zverev’s chances of making the semis are now out of his hands, with a win for Alcaraz on Friday enough to put him out of the event.
“It’s frustrating because I think the tennis that I played maybe deserved more than losing in straight sets in a way,” he said. “Also, again, if I don’t qualify, then I don’t have anybody to blame. It’s kind of my fault.”
The German said he was hoping that fate might play a role.
“I’ve never won a second round-robin match at this event and I won the tournament twice,” he said. “That obviously gives me hope. On Friday I’ll be No. 1 Daniil Medvedev fan there is on this planet – for a change.
“As I said, it’s a little bit out of my hands. Of course, if Daniil wins, he’s playing very well, I think he does have a lot of chances to win. I have to be focused and be ready for 8:30 and be ready to beat Andrey.”
