Once again, Alexander Zverev cannot prevail against Daniil Medvedev. Due to the defeat against the Russians, Germany’s tennis ace has an early final at the ATP Finals.
Alexander Zverev did not want to know anything about an impending preliminary round at the season finale of the eight best tennis players after the lost nerve crime. But Germany’s best tennis player now has to win against Polish tournament debutant Hubert Hurkacz in order to reach the semifinals of the ATP Finals in Turin. “I’m ready to play on Thursday. It will be the decisive match for me. I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it,” said the 24-year-old on Tuesday when he was close after the 3: 6, 7: 6 ( 7: 3), 6: 7 (6: 8) against Daniil Medvedev showered at the press conference appeared: “It’s all in my hands.”
In an exciting preliminary round with the defending champion and US Open Champion Medvedev, he was only two points missing – and his place in the semifinals would have been almost certain. Without his new girlfriend Sophia Thomalla in the box, the man from Hamburg fought his way back after losing the first set and gave Medvedev a balanced duel until the last rally. In the end, however, he suffered his fifth loss in a row against Medvedev. Last year’s Russian winner has already been determined as one of two semi-finalists in the red group.
Zverev with defiant reaction after losing to Medvedev
“In my opinion, we both have a very good chance of surviving the group,” said Zverev confidently and defiantly: “Of course I wanted to win, but the tournament is not over yet.” For him there is an interesting group showdown at the million-dollar event. The only comparison to date with the Polish ninth in the world rankings, Hurkacz, was decided by Zverev more than two years ago. Zverev won his opening match of this year’s ATP Finals against Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini earlier than expected because the Italian had to give up injured.
Mental strength will be particularly important, said brother and manager Misha Zverev before meeting Medvedev. At the beginning of the second movement, his younger brother showed emotions for the first time. The five-time tournament winner from 2021 now hit significantly more aces in a match at eye level. The decision was made in the tie-break. Curious: a foot mistake by the Russian put the German in the lead. Medvedev asked for video evidence, but the decision remained. Zverev managed to equalize the sentences.
The 2018 ATP Finals winner looked increasingly determined and courageous. In the ups and downs of the decisive tie break in the third round, Zverev fended off two match balls. Then the decisive backhand landed in the net. “We both played pretty well, we both served pretty well,” said Zverev: “I had the feeling that in the third set I was the better player.” Why didn’t he win in the end? “I didn’t win the last point. That was it.”
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