Medvedev, who slams aces at 230 km/h without looking like an overpowered player, will start as the favorite.

In four confrontations, the former world No.1 (for sixteen weeks in 2022) fell to 11th position and has never lost to the one who, at 21, is presented as one of the leaders of the new generation and dreams him too to one day ascend the throne of the ATP.

In the semi-finals on Saturday, Medvedev and Sinner (14th) did not shake against their opponent.

Especially the Russian who crunched the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in two dry sets (6-1, 6-2) when the Italian was more hooked by the Dutchman Tallon Griespoor, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).

A real metronome, the Muscovite seized the service game of Haskovo's rock three times (28th at the ATP) in the first round.

And even with a more offensive approach in the second set, the Bulgarian barely managed to disrupt his opponent's tennis.

After a mixed start to the year (semi-finalist in Adelaide then eliminated in the third round of the Australian Open), Medvedev is in Rotterdam "to resume his march forward", he explained to AFP this week.

After outclassing the outgoing winner of the tournament, the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (6-2, 6-4), Thursday in the quarter-finals, the winner of the US Open 2021 is only one step away from his first title this year, the sixteenth of his career.

"I feel very good. I move well, I make few mistakes. Contrary to what the score says, it was not easy against Grigor who was constantly looking for angles. There were many long exchanges , physically very taxing," Medvedev said.

Sinner will not be a willing victim.

His opponents in previous rounds can attest to that.

Facing the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seeded N.1 and 3rd player in the world released in the second round, and the Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka in the quarter, Sinner combined aesthetics, lightness and efficiency.

Jannik Sinner after his victory on February 18, 2023 in the semi-final of the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam against the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor © Sander Koning / ANP / AFP / Archives

As in the semi-finals when the Italian, muse of the luxury brand Gucci, put in his pocket the Ahoy public who had come to support his local darling, Griekspoor.

"He doesn't give the impression of hitting very hard, yet his ball goes very fast," noted American Maxime Cressy, whom Sinner beat in the final of the Montpellier tournament last weekend.

© 2023 AFP