Battle for leadership: Medvedev defeated Zverev and advanced to the semifinals of the ATP Final tournament ahead of schedule

Easy start

The statistics of the confrontation between Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev before the meeting in Turin indicated equality - both won five victories. Despite this, it was the Russian who was considered the favorite. And the point is not only that he approached the next game in the rank of the second racket of the world and in the status of the current winner of the ATP Final tournament last year. It's just that the last four head-to-head matches remained with him. Prior to that, the athletes met at the Masters in Paris in early November, and the native of Moscow easily coped with the German in the semifinals - 6: 2, 6: 2.

This time, only the first set turned out to be relatively easy for Medvedev.

Daniel immediately took the opponent's serve and took the lead with a comfortable advantage - 3: 0.

Looking ahead, this break was the only one in the match, and in the future the opponents did not allow themselves to make such mistakes.

Moreover, starting from the fifth game, none of the rivals managed to score at least two points on the serve of the counterpart.

In general, Zverev in the first game could not find his game for a long time and acted too passively, getting involved in protracted shootings on the back line.

This manner can hardly be called suitable in a confrontation with Medvedev, and even on a fast court.

Tie-break

In the second set, Daniil continued to confidently hold his own serve, and at times Alexander was close to giving the Russian an advantage at the start again. The German twice with great difficulty prevented the opponent from making a break, making comebacks on the balances. Everything was much easier for the second racket of the planet, and he immediately took three games "to zero".

But closer to the second half of the game, Zverev finally played out, and in the end it came to a tie-break.

The key moment happened at the very beginning.

The judge determined the spade for the Russian on the second serve with the score 1: 1.

Daniel, in response, ironically raised his thumb up.

However, the repetition demonstrated the correctness of the referee's decision - the athlete really made a spade, although it turned out to be minimal.

It is not surprising that a rumble immediately rushed from the stands in his address.

Daniel pointed his thumb down and then twisted a finger at his temple.

The lows 👎

and highs 👍

All's well that ends well for @DaniilMedwed ... # NittoATPFinalspic.twitter.com/w1iiaVUlhy

- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2021

A similar conflict with fans happened in Medvedev in the quarterfinals of the Parisian Masters, when he confronted local tennis player Hugo Gaston.

After another powerful whistle addressed to him, Daniel showed the disgruntled spectators the "elephant", turning to the crowd and imposingly twisting both shorts pockets.

The current situation upset the Russian a little, and Zverev took full advantage of this chance.

Alexander made two aces and took the lead with a score of 4: 1, providing a decisive groundwork for winning the set.

At the same time, for most of it, it was the Russian who looked preferable.

Seventh win in a row

In the decisive game, the quality of the serve again came to the fore.

And the German looked better in this component, who, at the end of the match, surpassed Medvedev in the number of aces - 18:14, as well as the quality of the first serve.

This time Zverev was closer to the break, but Daniel turned on at the right moment, not allowing his opponent to come forward.

As a result, the fate of the confrontation was also decided in a tie-break, and Alexander again managed to make an important breakthrough - 3: 1.

Medvedev quickly pulled himself together and took four points in a row.

Thus, he already took the lead with an advantage of two points - 6: 4.

Daniil managed to realize the matchball only on the third attempt, but he still got his way.

The Russian was so pleased with the victory that he admitted that he would remember this meeting for a long time.

After the match, he wrote on the camera: "Not pinched, but my hands are shaking."

The victory over Zverev allowed the Russian to become the sole leader of the red group and advance to the semifinals ahead of schedule.

Taking into account last year's results, this is already the seventh victory in a row for Daniel in the ATP Final Tournament.

In the final match of the group stage, he will face Italian Yannick Sinner, who replaced injured compatriot Matteo Berrettini.