At the end of the tennis year, the hamburger crowns himself world champion. In the final against his feared opponent, Zverev plays big – and leaves his opponent in despair.
What a finale to an amazing year for Alexander Zverev! Germany’s best tennis player has won the ATP Finals in Turin and has thus become the “world champion”, as it were. In the final against his feared opponent Daniil Medvedev – world number two and defending champion – the Hamburger won 6: 4, 6: 4 and won the tournament for the second time after 2018. And won the next big title after the Olympic gold in Tokyo in the summer.
Apart from the Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic Games, the ATP Finals are the most important event that can be won in tennis. Zverev is now considered the unofficial tennis world champion. In the semifinals, as in the summer games in Japan, the number three in the world caused a surprise against the Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic, winning 7: 6 (7: 4), 4: 6, 6: 3.
Against the US Open title holder Medvedev, Zverev built on this performance on Saturday and won completely deservedly. The prize money of 2.143 million US dollars should sweeten his vacation, but the sixth title in the past eleven months should count more for him. The most promising German tennis player since Boris Becker has never won so many tournament victories in one year. No one else has managed so many this year. Zverev, however, is still missing the Grand Slam triumph and in 2021 also the entry into a final at one of the four most important tournaments.
The final of the ATP Finals for reading in the ticker:
Alexander Zverev – Daniil Medvedev 6: 4, 6: 4
2nd movement, 6: 4, 6: 4: There it is! Alexander Zverev wins the ATP Finals 2021! A furious match against Daniil Medvedev, who was almost overwhelmed at times, a dominant performance full of self-confidence, a strong end to an equally strong year for the man from Hamburg. A strong forehand longline brings him to 30:15, the next two serves Medvedev has nothing more to oppose. Insanity!
2nd movement, 6: 4, 5: 4: Why so late? Medvedev fights and fights, desperately wants to stay in the match. With a lot of effort he fulfills his duty and brings his own service game. Now Zverev serves to win the match!
2nd movement, 6: 4, 5: 3: With a 190 km / h premium to the outside, Zverev closes the point at 5: 3. There is still a lot going on for the 24-year-old, shortly before there was another net scooter that dripped onto Medvedev’s side. What should the Russian do there?
2nd movement, 6: 4, 4: 3: Again shortened Medvedev. But that’s not enough to turn the match in his direction, a break has to be made – but Zverev is still much too active for that.
2nd movement, 6: 4, 4: 2: But Zverev is not deterred, dares a lot. Example? A second serve at 217 km / h (!) At the meanwhile 40:30. He ends with a forehand in the middle.
2nd movement, 6: 4, 3: 2: But Medvedev has not yet given himself up completely. He brings his service game through to zero. Very important also for the self-confidence of the Russian.
2nd movement, 6: 4, 3: 1: Zverev just goes on to have an answer to just about everything Medvedev tries. A rally on the net ends positively for the German, who can return every shot from Medvedev.
2nd movement, 6: 4, 2: 1: Very important for the Russians to stay tuned. But: He has to fight for every point, Zverev doesn’t give him anything. And again and again Medvedev also incorporates unnecessary errors – stoppers are too short, surcharges do not come – that is still a long way to go.
2nd set, 6: 4, 2: 0: Zverev managed his own service game with ease. He just seems more alert, more present than his counterpart.
2nd set, 6: 4, 1: 0: And the same goes on in the second sentence! Zverev gets the break directly. It is his returns that make Medvedev desperate, the Russian is currently looking tremendously shaky again, almost a little insecure. Proof: The so strong Medvedev has not yet managed a single ace.
1st set, 6: 4: Alexander Zverev wins the first set! It’s just really stable from the hamburger, the serves are right, now he dares to go forward to the network, Medvedev can only react, seems at times overwhelmed by the game of the German.
1st movement, 5: 4: Now Medvedev’s first serve is coming again, which helps the Russian a lot. He stays tuned. Now Zverev has the set win in their own hands.
1st movement, 5: 3: But Zverev is already forcing his opponent to make mistakes again. Medvedev’s forehand ends up well out of bounds, Zverev is already 40:15 ahead, goes ahead to the net – and even hits a slight forehand out of bounds. Unnecessary. So the world number two comes back into play. But in the pressure situation, Zverev plays strong tennis again and still makes the point. Now Medvedev is serving against the loss of a set.
1st movement, 4: 3: Is Medvedev getting better into the match now? He manages his service game to zero, now plays more forcefully, the strokes are now also better.
1st movement, 4: 2: Strong rally! The longest rally to date is over 23 strokes. It’s an intense match. And Zverev gets the next point.
1st movement, 3: 2: Curious scene: Medvedev breaks off in the middle of the rally because he saw a punch from Zverev. Checked the Hawk Eye – and Medvedev was wrong! Zverev gets the 40:40 and has the chance for the next break. The Russian stays cool, however, Zverev has no answer to the forehand. But Medvedev has to take a deep breath.
1st movement, 3: 1: That is just really strong from Zverev, both offensively and defensively, the Olympic champion leaves nothing to be desired. He closes the point with an ace and is now one break ahead.
1st movement, 2: 1: And immediately the first break for Zverev after only five minutes of playing time: Medvedev does not get into the rally at all, Zverev is already 40: 0 ahead, has three breakballs, keeps getting his opponent with strong returns. Medvedev comes in at 15:40, but then a net scooter decides the point for the German. Zverev gestures apologetically because of the ball that is dripping from the edge of the net.
1st sentence, 1: 1: The answer from the hamburger directly. He puts Medvedev under pressure, who knocks out a forehand.
1st movement, 0: 1: And the Russian manages his service game confidently, still not doing anything for Zverev.
1st movement, 0: 0: The match begins with Medvedev’s serve.
5:09 pm: Zverev and Medvedev are getting used to it, the referee of the game is the experienced Frenchman Renaud Lichtenstein.
17:00 o’clock: The two finalists will be presented with an impressive light show in the hall. If you like it with pathos and drama, this is the right place.
4:35 pm – Five defeats in a row is Zverev’s record against Medvedev. Most recently, he was able to win the preliminary round of the ATP Finals in 2019. Overall: 6: 5 for the Russian.
4:30 p.m. – Welcome to the live ticker for the final of the ATP Finals.
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