Tsitsipas condemns Medvedev to elimination

Party clearly typical of some ATP Finals that has been witnessed in the night shift of the second day of the red group between Stefanos Tsitsipas y Daniil Medvedev. The final victory was for the Greek in an agonizing clash, exhausted in the tiebreaker of the third set after many comings and goings and moments for the two players having won it before. Final triumph by 6-3, 6-7(11) and 7-6(1) for Tsitsipas that leaves the Russian eliminated, who will no longer be able to defend last year’s runner-up. Now, to gamble in the last round of the round robin against Rublev.

Eleventh confrontation between two colossi of current tennis such as Medvedev and Tsitsipas. Of course 7-3 favorable for the Russian racket although in recent times the thing was quite even, alternating victories the one and the other. Here, at the 2022 ATP Finals, a very valuable point was at stake on the second day of the red group. Both had lost the first day, and a defeat now could be lapidary. Especially for Daniil, that if he lost he would go straight to the street.

Therefore, the one in Moscow had more pressure. Tsitsipas was out like lightning to the Pala Alpitour in Turin. Very loose, with very happy, aggressive, even explosive tennis, cutting Medvedev’s rhythm. Breaking the spider web that he was trying to weave. Quickly the Greek managed to leave in the light. He would not let go of that valuable advantage anymore. He would not smell a break ball again, but he would not need it. Very reliable with his serve, connecting a lot of first serve, going up a lot to the net, bringing out his skills with the volley. He did not let Medvedev hold on to the back of the track. He attracted her to the net, he broke her rhythm.

Medvedev was not in his best version, that was palpable. He is consistent, but he lacks bite, in addition to looking very fast against the ropes on the scoreboard. He maintained the type but the attacks and the most direct tennis were put by the Athenian. The first set would travel to Greece with a fairly quick 6-3, the game so far developing very quickly and at that pace, also the elimination of Medvedev, who if he did not straighten the course would be doomed to stay out of the semifinals.

Brutal tiebreaker in the second set

The script of the second act would come capitalized by the maximum possible equality. The two contestants very fine-tuned in their serve, clinging to it so as not to grant very difficult advantages to the rival after reversing. Rare was the game in which Medvedev or Tsitsipas did not win it in white or in 15. Some somewhat tighter ‘game’, like the ninth, where the Greek reached equals in the Russian’s serve, adding spice to the matter. Little more. Both very firm with their task, without concessions, expeditious and leading the baton when it was their turn. Medvedev was not going to allow any more mistakes on his part. In the first set he had cost him the set against a very fine Tsitsipas.

Surreal it was going to be and we fell short, the level of the tiebreaker of the second set. Spectacular, very long, with a lot of tension, full of alternatives, the pure essence of the final game of a set. Medvedev could not miss or he would be out. He was up 4-1 with two breaks but then Tsitsipas turned it around. The Greek would enjoy up to three non-consecutive match points. Some tremendous, finishing off the Russian on numerous occasions and also receiving a response from the other side of the net. A Stef pediment but insufficient. A minimal detail would decide the sleeve, a bad drop from the Greek who did not enter put on the set tray. Medvedev closed it 13-11, coming out unscathed from a bloody and tough battle.

It smelled of a comeback, it smelled of a hard and severe blow to Tsitsipas’ morale. The Russian is a titanium tennis player, a fighter like no other, who must be finished off until exhaustion or he stirs and gets up. And so it was to be. After a relatively calm start to the third set, with both focused on their serve, the real hostilities would come in the sixth game. There, Medvedev went for the Greek, forcing his mistakes, showing Tsitsipas to be more tired, especially mentally. Not as cool anymore as before. The break would finally fall for the Muscovite with whom he would decisively put the final victory on track. Would the game close? He wouldn’t be able. Once again, in the ATP Finals, the Russian’s strength failed him because he did not press enough on the finish line and with a game to serve to forget, he gave up the advantage. A tremendous accolade for Tsitsipas that was going to denote much more confidence, the one that gives you when they save your life, in the final tiebreaker. Medvedev was very unfocused, very unsuccessful, disconnected from the game, literally handing over the tiebreak to the Greek who closed a game with a lot of nerves and a lot of alternations 7-1. Medvedev out of the ATP Finals, Tsitsipas to play it against Rublev.