ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev lost the first match to the famous Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev said: “This is a match we will remember. It was great. I got rid of everything at the last point. This is tennis – sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you are not.” “I still have a chance to win the championship,” said loser Zverev furiously. “The tournament is not over yet.” “I think we played well.”

Zverev entered the match with a four-game losing streak against the world number two – and has now lost his fifth game against the winner of the US Open in a row (total balance of 5:6).

At first, both players found it difficult to perform serve. After Zverev missed two break points in the first match, Medvedev scored after a few minutes and went 2-0 up. After 14 minutes the score was 3-0 for the defending champion, who blocked another break opportunity for the German.

Ex-professional Patrick Konin, who accompanied the meeting as a TV expert on “Sky”, analyzed: “So far, Medvedev has made the most energetic and attentive impression on me.” The 25-year-old also had a clear advantage after that, taking more free points – and taking advantage of the break to win the first set.

Hawk’s eye for foot defects causes a stir

Zverev remained sharp and blocked two breaks from the Russian in the first half to serve in the second set. In the seventh inning, Medvedev once again had the opportunity to take the serve from the German – but Zverev held out and blocked the break.

So he logically entered the tiebreak – and a strange spectacle shaped it: Medvedev tried to challenge the foot error against himself. But this did not help, the point went to 2: 1 to Zverev. The US Open winner was now attacked and addressed the audience with slightly provocative gestures.

Zverev used the momentum and earned the set compensation 7:3. Above all, it was the vastly improved game of service that brought the world number three back into the business.

Zverev and Medvedev with crime thriller tiebreak

The level of the game continued to rise, and there were no advantages for any of the players at the start of the third set. Both Zverev and Medvedev served confidently, until the 10th game there was no chance of a break.

Then Zverev had the opportunity to move Medvedev’s service game to 6: 5. He let it slip away. Shortly thereafter, it was clear that third action would also be set in the tiebreak, which evolved into a crime thriller.

Zverev led 3:1, then saved the two match balls at 4:6. After two hours and 35 minutes, Medvedev finally finished the match in his favour, celebrating his fifth straight win against Germany’s top seed.

Red group: Medvedev already through

Winning two sets, Zverev could have secured a semi-final ticket early on, but now has to make it clear in the final group game against Hubert Hurkacz.

So it is certain that Medvedev is already safely qualified for the semi-finals.

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