ATP Finals, Daniil Medvedev first semifinalist

Medvedev in the semifinals

Daniil Medvedev’s match begins with fireworks: immediately break at the start for the Russian, a couple of big winners and first stretch. Alexander Zverev struggles to resist and gets run over by the’start of his opponent, whose assault, however, does not last long. On 3-2 and serve, in fact, the Russian loses his way and suffers the counter-break, conceding three break points and favoring the German’s comeback, which goes on a crescendo. From the sixth game not even a break point is seen anymore, although under 6-5 Daniil has to come back up from 0-30, then saving himself at the tie-break. Here Zverev immediately goes ahead 4-1 and has a huge chance to go up 5-1 and close the score, but he misses a comfortable volley in the open court: he will pay the consequences.

The German, in fact, was soon pegged back, failed to take advantage of two set points and threw away a tie-break in which è he practically always led. At the first set point Medvedev seized the ball and put the arrow in after more than an hour. Despite a partial slipping away, however, Zverev did not suffer the blow and always managed to stay in the wake of his opponent, who serving first had the small advantage of always being able to lead the set. The level of spectacle in the second fraction è all but excelled, with few prolonged exchanges and the serve being the rule for both. At 4-4 the German still has a great chance, but his backhand on the break ball ends up wide and Medvedev saves again. At the change of court Zverev ends his disastrous match at key moments, giving way to his opponent after one’hour and three quarters. The Russian triumphs 7-6(7) 6-4 and è the first player to reach the semifinals of the Nitto ATP Finals 2023, consequently eliminating Andrey Rublev.

Giovanni Pelazzo