Published on April 13, 2023 at 11:38 p.m. – updated on April 13, 2023 at 11:45 p.m.
Daniil Medvedev qualified for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo by defeating Alexander Zverev in a thrilling match concluded in the tie-break of the third set, saving two match points. Next opponent: Holger Rune.
They had fought a daunting battle a month ago in the heat of the hard courts of Indian Wells (victory for Medvedev 6-7, 7-6, 7-5), they did it again this Thursday night and freshness on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo. Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev once again gave a magnificent show, and it was again the Russian who triumphed, with a score of 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 in 3:07, saving two match points. The winner of the Miami tournament was not necessarily the best on the court throughout the match, but he is surfing on such a wave of confidence (only three defeats this year) that he offers himself his first victory on a Top 20 player on clay for four years! As incredible as it may seem, this is the fourteenth time that the two players have faced each other, but the first time on clay! The Russian has long confessed to hating this surface, but he hopes to finally open his record on ocher, he who has not won any of his 19 titles on clay. And he showed he had the talent to do so, even if his fouls (18 in this match, against 31 winning shots) or his mood swings sometimes play tricks on him.
Zverev’s missed opportunities
In the first set, Medvedev started best by breaking at 1-1, but then relaxed and lost four games in a row (2-5), eventually conceding the set 6-3. In the second, both players struggled to hold serve, and there were four breaks in a row between 1-0 and 3-2, but while he was leading 5-4 and therefore serving for the match , Zverev cracked, losing twelve of the last 17 points of the set! The lack of confidence due to his lack of games following his serious ankle injury may have been felt at that time… So we had to play a third round, and this time both players held on well their serve up to 4-4. However, Medvedev missed five balls 4-2, and it was he who was finally broken. Zverev therefore served again for the match at 5-4, but he still cracked, being unbroken on a shutout (5-5). The two players had to decide in the tie-break and the German got two match points at 6-5 and 7-6. Medvedev saved them and he managed to finish on his first chance, to win the decisive game 9-7! For the second time in his career, after 2019, the Russian will therefore see the quarter-finals on the Rock, where he resides, and will pass a very big test on Friday against Holger Rune, whom he has never faced before and who did not play on Thursday due to Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal. But will he recover? As for Zverev, very disappointed after this match, we will see him again next week in Munich.
