MADRID, 22 (EUROPA PRESS)
Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev prevented Spanish Rafael Nadal from fighting this Sunday for the ATP Finals, the masters tournament that takes place in London, after coming back in three sets (3-6, 7-6 (4) and 6-3 ), to meet the Austrian Dominic Thiem in the final fight for the title, one of those who continues to resist the manacorí.
Nadal has won everything: 20 majors on all surfaces, 86 ATP titles, 5 Davises, two Olympic golds, including doubles, but the ATP Finals continues to elude the Spanish. A decade ago, either he did not play or he arrived very right after the demand of the whole season, and in his last attempts he has run into a new generation capable of everything. Among them is his executioner this Saturday.
The Mallorcan took the first heat without the best of sensations, suffering with the first services (40%) but being where he had to be and deciding with ease in the important moments. This was the case with 3-3, which accumulated up to three break balls to put the first stake in the Russian’s back. The 4-3 was a reality for the Balearic Islands and he faced the rest of the set with more confidence.
The world number two, who is still looking for a tournament that resists him throughout his career, sentenced the first set with another break in 46 minutes. Half the job was done. Of course, Medvedev had not said his last word. The Russian started the second set by breaking Nadal in the second game. The night turned on its face until only his own mistakes gave life to the Spanish.
From 4-1 and 15-40 in his favor, to the ‘tie-break’. Thus Medvedev’s life became complicated, who combined master strokes with various frivolities. Rafa took a slice and got to 5-4 with a serve in favor. He never had the ticket closer to the final in the last five years and it was then that the Muscovite put the direct and took the tiebreaker by a clear 7-4. The match would be decided in the third and final.
Everything continued its course until the seventh game, when Nadal delivered his serve and put the mat for his rival. Medvedev, fresher in the legs, returned absolutely everything and had no problems confirming the ‘break’ and closing on his first match point. A ticket that quotes him with Thiem this Sunday in the final of a tournament that will have a new champion.
