November 16, (THEWILL) – In a tense match at the ATP Finals in Turin, Daniil Medvedev defeated Alexander Zverev for the fifth time in a row, winning a final set tie-break.
Although Zverev battled his way back into the match, leading 4-2 in the third set breaker, he could not break the Russian’s hoodoo. Medvedev battled back to win 6-3 6-7(3) 7-6(6) and take the lead in the Red Group.
Both top players had won their first matches on Monday. Zverev defeated Matteo Berrettini, while Medvedev defeated Hubert Hurkacz after coming back from a set down.
Medvedev led in the opening set this time, as Zverev failed to pose any threat, appearing to play it safe. Medvedev rapidly jumped out to a 3-0 lead, playing at a level that his German opponent could not match. The Russian world number two won the set 6-3 in 38 minutes.
Zverev has never won an ATP Finals match after losing the first set, and he had never beaten Medvedev in the same situation, but he held on to his service games far more confidently in the second set to set up a tie-break, despite having to work far more than his opponent to maintain parity.
When a foot error in the set decider handed Zverev a mini-break and threatened to test Medvedev’s patience, the German did not look back, going forward with his serves and levelling the match.
The decisive set began exactly as the second had ended, with both players serving aggressively but failing to break the other. At 5-5, Zverev had his first break opportunity of the set, but Medvedev broke right back to force a tie-break.
After a match with only one break of serve, the tie-break was significantly more frantic, with the two trading four mini breaks in the first eight points.
At 6-4, Medvedev teed up two match points on a bulldozing second serve, but Zverev dismissed the first and then fired a remarkable reply of his own as the Russian attempted to serve-volley.
After hammering a forehand down the line for 7-6, Medvedev did not have to wait long for another chance. He made no mistakes this time, driving Zverev into a tired shot into the net to secure victory.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
