Danil Medvedev beat Alexander Zverev 6-4 6-3 at the China Open in Beijing in 1 hour and 25 minutes to reach his eighth final of the season.
Medvedev saved all four break points he faced (two in each set) and earned a late break in each set. Medvedev dropped 13 points on his first serve. Zverev wasted all four break points.
Medvedev has improved his head-to-head series against Zverev to 10-7, including a 4-1 lead this season. He has now five of their past six matches and 9 of their last 11. Zverev won his only match against Medvedev this year in Cincinnati last August.
Medvedev held serve at love with a service winner in the first game. Zverev drew level to 1-1 with a service winner. Both players served well and did not face any break points in their next service games.
Medvedev faced two break points and saved the first chance after a long rally. The Russian player held serve to take a 4-3 lead with a powerful serve on the second break point.
Zverev lost five points on his first serve before serving to stay in the first set at 4-5. The German player faced two break points and saved them to prolong the first set.
Medvedev converted the third break point with a forehand down the line winner to close out the first set 6-4 after 44 minutes.
Medvedev saved two break points with service winners at 1-1 in the second set.
Medvedev earned a break with a forehand down the line winner in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead earning the chance to serve for the win. He earned three match points and held serve at love to close out with an ace.
“It’s an amazing, strong field, so it’s great to be in the final against either Sinner or Alcaraz. I am really happy with my level. Roof closed, different conditions today, much faster. Both of us are big servers, so it came down to a few opportunities and I managed to serve better than he did when I had break points”, said Medvedev.
