the greek Stefanos Tsitsipas signed his first victory at the ATP Finals in Turin after a marathon against the Russian Daniil Medvedevwhich he eliminated after more than two hours of exchanging direct blows that was decided in two fundamental tie-breaks, of a great tennis level and to remember (6-3, 7-6 (11) and 7-6 ( 1)).
The duel between the two losers of the first day of the red group, also tournament champions, eliminated a Medvedev who touched the epic, the feat, after a tiebreaker in the second set in which he saved three match points to extend the contest to a third set in which he despaired of the endurance of his Hellenic rival.
Medvedev is a tough nut to crack, tell Tsitsipas if not, who won the first set of the match 6-3 with ease, breaking the Russian’s first serve, learning from what was his mistake in his defeat against Serbian Novak Djokovic, but who saw his presence in this tournament that puts the finishing touch to the season almost complicated by a titanic effort from the Muscovite.
Medvedev woke up in the second set and exhibited the resilience that characterizes him so much and, despite appearing uncomfortable, he reacted again under pressure, a situation that already seems to be common in Moscow.
He kept his serve, like the Greek, and the stake was decided in a ‘tie-break’ to remember, a fight open to everything nothing, open body, without gloves, between two greats on the circuit who did not want to give up anything, in which Tsitsipas enjoyed three match points that will surely be remembered for a long time, and in which Medvedev won the set on his fourth set ball, after thirteen points.
The hammer of the fourth favorite carbureted in the second set with seven direct serves and kept the pace with another seven before the definitive ‘tie-break’.
Tsitsipas gave up his serve in the seventh game, leaving the comeback to Medvedev on a platter, who felt like a winner for a moment. He served with a 5-4 lead, just four points away from taking the game. He wasted his opportunity against the solid defense of Tsitsipas, who appeared at the best moment, recovered, broke and sank his opponent.
The final tiebreaker began almost with a definite winner. The high level of the first caused the stands to turn after the show, but Medvedev was out. Gestures towards his bench, negative with the head, snorts. Tsitsipas was whole, he had recovered, with extra energy obtained after the last break.
He rolled over the Hellene. He gave no choice. Seven to one and think about Rublev, in a new all-or-nothing game. Whoever wins passes, whoever loses goes home.
