Medvedev keeps finals hopes alive with commanding win

Daniil Medvedev rebounded on Tuesday at the ATP Finals, defeating tournament debutant Alex de Minaur in a decisive 6-2, 6-4 victory. This win in Turin comes after the fourth-seeded Russian’s opening group-stage loss to Taylor Fritz, restoring Medvedev’s chances of reaching the knockout rounds.

Facing no break points throughout the match, Medvedev broke De Minaur’s serve three times and controlled play from start to finish. The 2020 ATP Finals champion, who unleashed 16 winners in the opening set, was dominant on serve, losing only two points behind it in the second.

“I decided not to care about it in a good way,” Medvedev said of his must-win situation. “If I lose, the season is over; if I win, I have another chance on Thursday… I’ll try and do the same the next match, so I don’t care.”

A break at 2-1 set Medvedev firmly in the driver’s seat, while a crucial ninth-game break in the second set put the Australian on the brink of elimination. De Minaur, whose fate could be sealed depending on the Sinner-Fritz match outcome, now faces slim hopes of progressing. Medvedev’s next opponent will be world number one Jannik Sinner on Thursday.

(Source: AFP)