In Dubai, in the final of the ATP 500 tournament, for the first time in 15 years, two Russian tennis players met - Daniil Medvedev and Andrei Rublev.

The last time representatives of the Russian Federation fought for the title in the decisive match in 2008.

Then at the Kremlin Cup, Igor Kunitsyn outplayed Marat Safin in three sets.

However, of course, it is wrong to compare these two meetings, since the level of competition in the UAE is higher and it was much more difficult for both tennis players, even if they were in the top 10 of the world ranking, to get to the decisive match.

For Rublev, the tournament in Dubai became very important, first of all, from a psychological point of view.

Andrei started the new season unsuccessfully, reaching the quarterfinals only twice: at the Australion Open and in Doha.

And three more times he conceded in the first meeting.

In the UAE, for the Russian, everything was also not easy.

In many ways, the key to regaining self-confidence was the confrontation with Alejandro Davidovich‑Fokina in the second round.

It seemed that everything again went according to the worst scenario for Rublev.

He began to get nervous and after losing the first set, he bled his knee with a racket.

However, at the tie-break in the second game, Andrey did not allow his opponent to use any of the five (!) match points and turned the tide of the match.

After that, the tennis player easily coped with the Dutchman Botik van de Zanshulp, although he gave up a couple of games in this match due to nerves.

And then he turned out to be stronger than a very uncomfortable opponent for himself - the German Alexander Zverev, whom he had never beaten at ATP tournaments before, although there were five attempts.

This meeting was also not without excitement for Andrey's fans: he converted only the sixth match point in the tie-break.

Quite a different psychological state of Medvedev.

Daniil won two trophies in a row for the second time in his career: in Rotterdam and Doha.

And in Dubai, in two sets, he defeated the first racket of the world Novak Djokovic and extended the winning streak to 13 matches.

The meeting with the Serb abounded in beautiful, long draws, in which the Russian was a little better.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the experts considered him the favorite of the final.

According to Andrey Chesnokov, the winner of the Masters series tournaments, Medvedev is now showing the best tennis in his career.

“Daniel is completely different.

I don't know what Andrey needs to do to beat him.

Medvedev is sure of himself.

It turns out absolutely everything.

In the match Rublev - Medvedev, the advantage will be on the side of Daniil.

He will be the favourite.

Although, to be honest, for me, the meeting between Djokovic and Medvedev was the final of the tournament in Dubai, ”the Championship specialist quotes.

In favor of Medvedev was the statistics of personal meetings - 4:2.

Although the last two matches - at the Masters in Cincinnati and the final ATP tournament - remained with Andrei.

Daniil in the very first game on the pitch of the opponent decided to indicate who is the favorite in the next confrontation.

And although Rublev served well, his opponent managed to reach the most difficult balls.

From the first minutes there were long draws and shootouts on the back line.

Fans did not hide their sympathy, shouting from the podium: "Danya, come on!".

The latter pissed off Andrey, and for the first time in the game he began to complain to the referee.

Medvedev, on the other hand, was incredibly calm and eventually managed to earn two breaks at once, one of which he converted.

However, Rublev did not give up and also began to cling to the opponent's serve, but at decisive moments he turned out to be a little more accurate.

The seventh game turned out to be key with the score 4:2.

Andrew made two mistakes in a row.

First, in a winning position, he sent the ball out after a smash, and then, attacking, hit the net and gave his compatriot the opportunity to increase the lead, which he immediately took advantage of, and then confidently, at zero, filed for the set - 6: 2. 

The statistics of the party turned out to be quite indicative.

Daniil made only two unforced errors against Rublev's ten, and after the second serve he was able to win only 27% of the points.

In the next set, Medvedev's advantage became even more pronounced: he took his games quite easily, while Andrei, on the contrary, got more and more excited, which clearly did not benefit him.

At first, he still managed to hardly maintain equality in the account.

However, in the fifth game, Danya still crushed the opponent.

After several long and difficult plays, he earned a break and converted it immediately.

After that, Rublev psychologically surrendered: he failed to take a single point on the filing of his compatriot, and then gave his one again.

In the last game, Medvedev had three match points and won the meeting on the second attempt - 6:2.

It took the Russian a little over an hour to win the third trophy in a row for the first time in his career. 

As Shamil Tarpishchev, the head of the RTF, noted, much in the confrontation was determined by the actions at the reception during the second serve.

In his opinion, the result is natural.

“Intelligent tennis Medvedev turned out to be better than Andrey's power.

Danya played cleaner and sharper, winning points easier.

The merit of Dani is that Rublev had much less time to prepare the strike.

Rublev crossed the peak earlier, gave an exemplary match with Zverev, but could not cope with the accuracy of his compatriot, ”Tarpishchev explained.

Andrey himself agrees with the specialist.

In an interview on the court, he admitted that he did not know how to deal with an opponent.

“He destroyed me tonight!

Three titles in a row.

I don't know how he does it.

This is my first final of the season and I'm completely blown away.

I never said this to Daniel in person: I respect him very much.

He is a true champion and a real inspiration to the players.

We have known each other since childhood,” said the tennis player.

Medvedev won his 18th career title.

Thanks to the victory, the tennis player will overtake Rublev in the ATP world rankings.

On Monday, March 6, he will take the sixth line, and Andrey will drop to the seventh.

Next, the winner of the tournament in Dubai will go to the Masters in Miami and Indian Wells, where he will try to extend his unique winning streak, which already has 14 matches, as much as possible.

The athlete himself hinted at this, leaving a message on one of the television cameras: Not over yet (“Nothing is over yet”).