Sports

Zverev dethrones Medvedev to win 2nd ATP final of his career

Rome, Nov 21 (EFE).- Germany’s Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 3 in the world, on Sunday won his second ATP Finals event of his career, besting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 2, 6-4 and 6-4 in an hour and 16 minutes.

After prevailing over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in an intense semifinal match on Saturday, Zverev knocked out Medvedev, who had gotten to the final after a run of nine consecutive wins in this tourney, including the 2020 London matchups and this year in Turin.

It was Zverev’s sixth title win of his extraordinary season, after triumphs in Vienna, Madrid, Cincinnati, Acapulco and the Olympic contest in Tokyo.

The German – who has racked up 59 wins on tour this season – could not have ended the season any better and, in his hunt for a Grand Slam, he has gained confidence by beating both Djokovic and Medvedev, whom he had already beaten in three sets in the group phase.

The match on Saturday, which lasted two hours and 28 minutes, seemed like it might have exhausted Zverev, but he played an extremely solid and aggressive game all the way through on Sunday.

Zverev fired seven aces and 22 winners to sink his rival, despite the fact that Medvedev had played top-level tennis throughout the Italian tourney. But even so, the Russian was not able to break Zverev even once in Sunday’s matchup.

Zverev landed 74 percent of his first serves, while Medvedev never really got into the game and ended up landing just 59 percent of his first serves, firing only three aces.

Consequently, the match lasted a mere 76 minutes, although Medvedev came into it to defend his title after winning five previous encounters with Zverev, the latest at the Paris Bercy semifinals.

“There’s no better way to end the season than winning here,” Zverev said after the match. “I’m also now very much looking forward to next year already.”

Meanwhile, Medvedev said of Zverev after the duel: “He is a great player that is capable of beating anybody. He definitely can win a Grand Slam because it’s just obvious. … You need to win seven matches to be a Grand Slam champion. Is he capable? Yes. Is he going to do it? We never know.”

Medvedev has notched 58 triumphs and 13 defeats this season.

EFE am/ism/bp

Related Articles

Back to top button