Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev of Russia survived a slugfest and thrilling match against No. 3 Alexander Zverev on Tuesday at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Italy.
Medvedev defeated the German 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) in two hours, 36 minutes. Medvedev advances to the semifinals with his fifth straight win over Zverev.
“He’s definitely not going to make it easy for you, and there were a few points where I could have been better, and I think the nerves were part of it,” Medvedev said. “But then in the third-set tiebreak, of course, both of us were shaken. That’s completely normal. Everybody would be: Novak, Rafa, Roger.
“That’s why I found it funny, because I think on the TV you don’t really see it because I was still going for the shots. I was not missing that much. I made a few great shots, and it was enough to win the match. So I guess people could look at it and say, ‘Wow, he’s not tight at all’, but, yeah, hands were shaking,” Medvedev said.
Zverev finished with 18 aces and just two double faults while Medvedev produced 14 aces against one double fault. Zverev was not able to break Medvedev’s serve the entire match.
In the day’s other match, first alternate Jannik Sinner honored his Italian mate Matteo Berrettini with a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.
Sinner stepped in after Berrettini was forced to withdraw from the tournament. Berrettini injured his oblique Sunday during his match against Zverev.
After defeating Hurkacz, Sinner paid tribute to Berrettini by signing the camera lens with, “Matteo, you are an idol.”
“Matteo has been unlucky many, many times in his career and I wish him all the best,” Sinner said. “I am going to play for him at this tournament because he deserves to be here. I will give my best and it is a highlight playing here.”
Sinner saved all five break points and needed just one hour, 22 minutes to defeat Hurkacz.
Sinner can advance to the semis with a win over Medvedev on Thursday or if Zverev loses to Hurkacz. He would become the first alternate ever to qualify for the semifinals of the event.
“It is an incredible feeling playing here in Italy with thousands of people cheering for you and I am trying my best. I will enjoy the moment,” Sinner said. “It was an incredible match today.”
–Field Level Media
