Like in the Davis Cup: Medvedev and Khachanov defeated Argentina and made it to the ATP Cup semi-final

Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov took the Russian national tennis team to the semifinals of the new men's team tournament - ATP Cup. Their singles victories were enough to beat the fairly strong Argentine squad made up of Guido Pella and Diego Schwartzman at the start of the playoffs and repeat the result shown in the last Davis Cup.

Before the quarter finals, the Russian national team had a day of rest that had to be spent on a flight from Perth to Sydney - this is where the struggle for a new title in professional tennis continues. While tennis players got to a new city for themselves, their rival in the first round of the playoffs was determined on the courts of the Ken Rosewall Arena. They turned out to be Argentines, who beat the Croats in the last round.

The quarter-finals fell to Karen Khachanov and Guido Pelle. A year ago, they held their only meeting in the second round of the tournament in Barcelona, ​​which was won by a Latin American tennis player. But that match took place on the ground, and on the Australian hard Pella managed to make one misfire, while Khachanov had not yet suffered a single defeat in Australia.

The Russian tennis player immediately made a weighty bid for victory - in the first game he earned a break point, and in the third he took the opponent’s pitch to zero. Khachanov soon brought the advantage to 4: 1, but Pella was able to stop him for a short while, having played one break. However, the set could already be considered lost, and then the Argentine did not resist.

In the second installment, Pella began to recoup. Although he could not beat Khachanov at his pitch at the 25th racket of the world, he earned break points quite regularly, leaving them without implementation. The set turned out equal and logically switched to a tie-break. Pella remained in the fight exactly until the moment when he made a double mistake. After that, Khachanov put an end to the match with an ace.

“I tuned in, began to play more powerful and hit accurately, without misses. This is very important in an aggressive game. I think everything turned out fine. In general, I am satisfied with myself today, ”the Russian said after the match.

The tiebreak is delivering 👏 # ATPCup | # Final8 | # ARGRUSpic.twitter.com / z19EDARFqt

In a duel of the first numbers of their teams, Daniel Medvedev and Diego Schwartzman met. Both previous meetings between them remained with the Russian. The favorite of the next match was also made by the fact that the Argentine has never beat tennis players from the top five of the ATP rating.

Already in the first game, Medvedev showed the strength of his serve by making two aces. In the third game, he delighted the fans and his captain Marat Safin with a wonderful sweeping stroke around the net rack. Schwarzman did not succeed in drawing the net to his side - his two hits on the cable allowed the Russian to count. With great difficulty, using five break points in one game, the Argentine still regained his balance, but right there at the reception Medvedev won four points in a row and took the first set.

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A new agent in covering #Sydney real estate: @ DaniilMedwed # ATPCup | # Final8 | # ARGRUSpic.twitter.com / b0ZW5HzIBL

In the second installment, the fifth racket of the world began to have problems. Attempts to make a break did not lead to anything, and after a lost serve Medvedev fell for a judge and twice hit his tower with a racket, for which he was awarded a penalty point. The Russian tried to recoup, but for the whole second game, which lasted an entire hour, he did not catch up with Schwartzman.

“Medvedev needs to stay focused and just do what he can. Try your best and see what happens. Do not be nervous and do not rush to the exits to the net, do not hit too hard. You need to be smarter, sometimes pull yourself together, keep calm and see what happens next, ”Safin commented on Medvedev’s actions after the match.

The third set flew almost instantly - this time tennis players took almost half of the games to zero, without thinking about other people's innings. But even in a tie-break, no one wanted to decide the fate of a ticket to the semifinals. In the eighth game, Daniel, as befits a favorite, made an effort on himself. First, he made the opponent make mistakes and made a break, and then quickly brought the set, match and confrontation to victory.

The Russian team reached the semifinals, and Medvedev himself received a wonderful bonus - with this victory he secured himself fourth place in the ATP rating next week.

Game, set and Semi-Final! @DaniilMedwed def. Diego Schwartzman 6-4 4-6 6-3 to secure a place in the inaugural #ATPCup Semi-Finals for 🇷🇺 # TeamRussia. # ARGRUSpic.twitter.com / mcO3FSaMp8

The confrontation with Argentina ended in a doubles match in which Teymuraz Gabashvili and Konstantin Kravchuk faced off with Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni. The Russians won in two sets, winning the first in a tie-break.

January 10, it will become known with whom Medvedev and Khachanov will argue for reaching the final. It will be either Canada, having passed the group stage with one defeat, or Serbia, led by Novak Djokovic. The Russians will be able to spend that day a full day off without unnecessary travel.