• Classification: Nadal's group

In the replica of the final of the United States Open, in the third chapter of a game already turned into a classic, Rafael Nadal saved a match point and won Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (3), 6-3 and 7- 6 (4), in two hours and 46 minutes, in the group phase of the ATP Finals, keeping alive their options to reach the semifinals of the tournament. The influence of world number 1 eventually broke down the Russian, dragged into an amazing self-destruction after dominating 5-1 in the third quarter, at which time he squandered his lethal bullet. Nadal will play on Friday against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last match of the group stage. "I have been superfortune," admitted the Spanish, a finalist in 2010 and 2013, at the foot of the track. "One of these days happens to you once in a thousand." Nadal also regains a pulse in the race by finishing the year as number 1. Now his advantage over Djokovic is 640 points.

It was the first crossing between the two from New York last summer. Then, Medvedev was able to lift two adverse sets and compromise Nadal's chances of lifting the trophy. He demonstrated an indomitable character and great tactical intelligence. Debutante in that instance of a Grand Slam tournament, he competed as a tanned tennis player in high-demand appointments. Medvedev maintained the inertia of his great season until the Shanghai 1000 Masters, where he achieved his fourth title of 2019. He fell in Paris-Bercy, where he fell in front of Jeremy Chardy, and also did it against Tsitsipas in his premiere in Londred.

Forced to win after his defeat in Monday's debut against Zverev, Nadal raised a smart game, trying to keep his opponent from feeling comfortable. He was seen by the network much more than usual, sometimes directly from the service, in a new demonstration that he has recovered from his abdominal distension. When he had to hit the ball, he knew how to hit the cross drive on the back of the Russian and then find space with the parallel.

Both urgently

Also urgently after losing to Tsitsipas, the Russian grew with the game and was the first to find a break option, saved by Nadal after a prolonged exchange, in the seventh game. Medvedev chained four blank games with his service, which he also asserted in the tiebreaker, aided by the poor performance of his rival.

Since his heterodoxy, the winner of this course in Cincinnati, St. Petersburg and Sofia is difficult to overflow. In addition to a magnificent serve, it has among its many virtues resilience from the bottom and the ability to fight back. Nadal used well the reverse cut and tried to keep him in dance. He found a prize in the first game of the second set, where he managed to break it. He had a dangerous streak in the tournament, without a single break ball against Zverev and also an orphan of them against Medvedev. More accurate in its rush, with the complement of a very effective setback, Nadal broke again in the ninth game to match the confrontation.

Irregular, messy at times, Nadal did not support the tone and was at the mercy of his opponent in the third quarter. He walked with determination towards victory, but perhaps he saw her almost accomplished. There is no greater sin than to give Nadal a chance, no matter how surmised it may be, for at times he gave the impression of running out of fuel. Medvedev committed it, contumaz in the error in the final stretch and far from the emotional stability that allowed him to row until the penultimate port in the final of the US Open. His service, which gave him 21 aces , also went bankrupt.

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  • Rafael Nadal
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