Daniil Medvedev has extended Rafael Nadal’s hunt for his first ATP Finals title by at least another year after staging a marathon comeback in their semi-final clash on Saturday.
The world No.4 looked to be on the verge of straight sets loss before fighting back to prevail 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3, in what is his first ever win over Nadal on the ATP Tour. Locking horns for more than two-and-a-half hours, Medvedev looked the fresher out of the two during the closing stages as he produced a total of 13 aces and 42 winners. A big contrast to Nadal’s tally of three and 26. Furthermore, the Russian only dropped serve once and broke four times.
“I felt really strange for him (Nadal) when he was serving at 5-4 in the second set for the match,” said Medvedev. “I felt like I was doing great shots, but there were no links in my game and that is why I was losing. He was better in the important moments and I couldn’t return in those important moments.’
“(Then) I decided to change some small things. To be closer (to the lines) and go for it a little bit more because I felt like I had the chance to win some games before.’
“It worked really well and I am really happy about it.”
Taking to the court Medvedev was arguably Nadal’s biggest test so far in the tournament. Heading into the clash, he had won all three of his previous matches in straight sets and had only dropped his serve once. Although early on, it looked as if the Spaniard would be triumphant.
The opener was a tightly contested encounter until the world No.2 struck in the eighth game. Continuing to repeatedly hit the ball deep towards the baseline, Nadal turned the fortunes in his favour after breaking a shaky Medvedev to love for a 5-3 lead. Continuing his surge, he clinched the opening set in the following game with a forehand shot that proved too problematic for his opponent to return.
Despite the breakthrough, Medvedev refused to back down. Triggering memories of their clash at the 2019 US Open when he came from two sets down to force their match into a decider, which Nadal won on that occasion. Capitalising on a sub-par Nadal service game, Medvedev swiftly worked his way to a 3-0 lead in the second frame.
With his back pushed against the wall, the 20-time Grand Slam champion responded in fitting fashion as he clawed his way back to level 4-4. Although part of his comeback was aided by some tentative tennis that was being produced from the other side of the court.
The roller-coaster continued for both men. Initially, it looked as if Nadal would seal the match 6-3, 6-4, after Medvedev produced a dismal service game. However, it was then Nadal’s turn to implode after a series of loose shots enabled the Russian to draw level once again at 5-5. The cat and mouse chase continued into the tiebreak where Medvedev finally seized his opportunity. After coming out on top in a 28-shot rally to clinch an early break, he weathered the storm en route to forcing the match into a final set.
Nadal is regarded as one of the greatest front-runners in the entire sport. Prior to the London semi-finals, he had won 173 out of 175 matches where he had claimed the opening set. However, it wouldn’t be this time round. Instead a Medvedev smash at the net gifted him a break for 4-3 in the decider as he closed in on victory. Nadal was unable to respond as he started to rapidly fade on the court. Enabling Medvedev to prevail on his first match point after a shot from Nadal touched the top of the net but failed to go over.
“I think I achieved enough to not find an excuse about the pressure,” Nadal replied when asked if nerves got the better of him.
“I know I won enough matches and enough tournaments in an even more difficult situation than this one and even in more important matches than tonight.’
“I felt I played a bad game. Of course you are nervous to win the match.’
“I think he played some good points and I make a couple of mistakes. And that’s it, and then he played a good tiebreak.’
“I should have been winning my serve in the third, the one that I lost. I had easy volley to close the game. Small details makes a big difference.”
Medvedev will next play Dominic Thiem in the final on Sunday. The Austrian ousted Novak Djokovic in his semi-final match. It will be the fifth meeting between the two with Thiem currently leading their head-to-head 3-1.
“Dominic is an amazing player. I have practice with him twice here (in London) on the centre court. There was really tight points and games so I think there are going to be great tennis tomorrow (in the final),” he previewed.
Should Medvedev win the title he would become the first player to defeat every member of the world’s top three within the same tournament since David Nalbandian at the 2007 Madrid Open.
