ATP Finals 2021, Turin, Italy: Daniil Medvedev keeps it clean with a 3-0 record topping the Red Group to enter the ATP Finals 2021 semifinals. In a tight battle against the home favorite Jannik Sinner, the Russian outclasses with 6-0, 6-7(5), 7-6(8).
It has been a magical journey till now for World No. 2, Daniil Medvedev. He had a tough task to face the German, Alexander Zverev, which he comprehensively overcame. The latest battle against the Italian was the most thrilling of all.
The Italian had two Match Points to see off the defending champion. However, the Russian stuck to his roots to fend off any chance for Sinner to take the match.
“It was tough,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “Mentally it was tough knowing the match was dead. But I did not want to lose my rhythm. I won the first set quite easily and I was like, lets continue this way. The second set was about an hour or so and then it is the third set. But you’re not going to not play the third set because I like to win, I don’t like to lose. I am happy I won.”
“When I know that I am in the next round and I am waiting for my opponent, I watch the match to see how they play,” Medvedev added. “So I am just going to watch it and enjoy it and wait for the winner.”
In an entertaining match, the Russian hit with consistent depth against Sinner as he used his flat groundstrokes to pin the Italian back. Medvedev recovered from a break down in the third set and saved match points at 5/6 and 7/8 in the third-set tie-break to extend his ATP Head2Head series lead against the 20-year-old to 3-0.
World No. 2 literally flew out right from the start with his organized tennis of Consistency and precision. The first set was all about the Russian, he only needed 26 minutes to close the set with his merciless display.
The match looked like Zverev’s early on against Hubert Hurkacz. However, the crowd favorite bounced back in the second set. He broke the champion early to lead 3-1, But Medvedev broke back instantly to get back on serve at 3-2. The result would be decided in the tiebreaker.
Jannik Sinner was all charged up, raising his arms as he marched back to his chair. Italian with his quality remained strong to edge out Medvedev to level the match, pushing it to a decider.
The third set just like the second was tight. Again, Sinner broke early leading 4-2. However, the Russian using all his experience regained control. The pair moved the match into a tiebreaker.
Sinner gained two match points and was fighting hard to close the match as soon as possible. However, Medvedev is never seen to let go, saving both match points and after a soaking encounter of two hours and 32 minutes got the job done.
Jannik Sinner:
“It was a great year for sure,” said Sinner. “[There were] a lot of highlights and playing here especially, it was a great feeling. I grew as a player, but also as a person, which for me is very important.
“I think it was a great season and whether someone [would have] expected it or not, I don’t know. But when you are, I think I started the year [at No.] 37 and finishing [in the] Top 10 [of the FedEx ATP Rankings], it’s great. For me, it’s a big pleasure to be one of these incredible players.
“On the other hand, I know what I have to improve, my team knows that as well, so it’s going to be interesting next year. But I don’t want to rush, that’s for me the main goal. I’m 20, next year I’m 21, there’s still many, many years that I can play on the Tour.”
“The first set, obviously, I was a little nervous,” said Sinner. “There were moments where he was not missing any balls and I tried to find a solution somehow. Then after I took a little bit more time, [I] tried to understand how to play against him. I found a solution a little bit.”
“Obviously, there were some moments when I was a little bit unlucky, but he is World No. 2 and he played an unbelievable match. Today, also, I tried my best. The atmosphere helped me a lot, so. I think it was a great match. Obviously, it was not the way I want to end it, but I think I can be proud that after the first set like this, I found a solution, which was the best thing to do.”
“It can give me a lot of confidence for the next year, in one way. In another way, I know I have still to improve many things,” Sinner said. “Now we have time to do that, especially physically, and then we will see next year what’s coming.”
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