Russian world four Daniil Medvedev knocked out Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the men's tennis ATP play-offs in London, thus stopping the Spaniard from taking home one of the few titles he still misses.
Medvedev beat Nadal 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, and is ready for the final.
The Russian played strongly, but still got into trouble.
And it took a real pick-up to secure the victory.
- It felt really strange until 5-4 in the second set, when he served for the match.
It felt like I hit good shots but there was no connection in my game and that was why I lost.
He was better on the important occasions, says Medvedev in the interview on the pitch after the match, according to the competition's website, and continues:
- I decided to change a few small things.
Play closer, go in for it a little more.
I felt I had the chance to win, he says.
ARCHIVE: Here he drops it - smashes the racket (November 13, 2020)
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Here he drops it - smashes the racket
The semi-final victory was the 24-year-old's first win against Nadal.
Medvedev was also the only one in his group who went undefeated through the group stage, among other things by winning over Novak Djokovic.
This is in stark contrast to Medvedev's effort in the tournament last year, when he did not win a single match.
World setter Djokovic's journey also ended in the semifinals, where he lost after three sets against the Austrian Dominic Thiem, who thus meets Medvedev in the final on Sunday.
CLIP: That's why so many different ladies win in the Grand Slam
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Maria Strandlund Tomsvik, Eurosport's commentator, explains why there are so many different winners among the ladies.
Photo: Bildbyrån