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Nitto ATP Finals, Semifinals
Daniil Medvedev – Rafael Nadal 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Daniil Medvedev found a place in the ATP Finals trophy match in London after recording a three-set victory over Rafael Nadal. The Russian was in a difficult situation at the end of the second set, when his opponent served for the victory, but showed enviable self-control and finally deserved the victory after just over two and a half hours on the court at “O2 Arena”.
Thus, in tomorrow’s final, Medvedev, who lost all three matches in the tournament groups in 2019, will face last year’s finalist Dominic Thiem.
It all comes down to this! Who will win the title? 🏆@DaniilMedwed | @ThiemDomi | #NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/PlENOq7HGF
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 21, 2020
The effective serve this time was Medvedev’s weapon, as the Russian recorded 12 aces to just 3 for Nadal. The two had almost the same percentage of points won in the first serve, but in those of the second the Russian had a slight advantage with 48% efficiency, while Nadal registered 37%. However, Medvedev showed quite a bit of waste when it came to his breakthrough points, noticing only 36% of them (4 of 11), while Matadora was much more accurate with his 75% (3 of 4).
Nadal managed to be the first to advance in the games, but then Medvedev took the initiative. The Russian first tied the result in the set, and in the third game he reached three points for a breakthrough, but failed to make any of them and this allowed his opponent to reverse the result. The Russian was quick to shake off disappointment and re-equalized 2-2, after which he and Nadal exchanged another match.
Immediately afterwards came the great moment of the Matador. The World Cup No. 2 significantly increased the pace and won three consecutive matches (one of them to zero), ending the set in their favor with their first set point after 48 minutes of play.
Contrary to the development of the match, the second set started excellently for Medvedev. The Russian showed great tennis, giving up just one point to the Roland Garros champion in the first three matches and gaining a comfortable lead. Nadal cut his deficit after one game to zero, but Medvedev quickly cut it off and restored the three-game lead to 4-1.
Medvedev had a golden opportunity to end the intrigue on set by reaching a breaking point in the sixth game, but Nadal emerged from a difficult situation and won the game. This turned out to be just the beginning of a very strong streak for the Spaniard, who continued to dominate and made a spectacular turn, taking the score to 5-4 in his favor.
Nadal served for the match, but Medvedev avoided danger in the best possible way by winning Game 10 to zero, then tried again 6-5. This time, however, Nadal was much more convincing on his passing and thus came a tiebreaker.
At first, the two exchanged a point, after which Medvedev made a very important advance 4-1. Nadal returned the intrigue, reducing to 4-3, but the Russian made another breakthrough and reached three consecutive set points. The Spaniard saved the first, but Medvedev did not allow his opponent to continue waiting for a change of course and won 7-4.
In the first game of the final set, Medvedev reached a new breaking point, but once again failed to seize the opportunity and Nadal reversed the result. The Russian restored the tie after a game to zero, after which the two continued to be infallible in their passes and thus came the second break of the set with a score of 3-2 for Nadal.
After that, however, Medvedev returned as a transformer on the court and completely reversed the development of the set by winning the next three games. In the seventh, the Russian missed two more break points and was about to double down again in an important moment, but this time the World No. 4 resisted pressure from Nadal and realized the third break point, which was opened before him.
It just will. No. Miss 🚫
🇷🇺 @DaniilMedwed breaks Nadal for a 4-3 lead in the final set!#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/LgADxR6bG1
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 21, 2020
Nadal served to stay in the match and took the lead three times in the ninth game, but Medvedev was flawless in the decisive moments and put pressure at the right moment, which helped him win the match, and with it the match, forming the final 3-. 6, 7-6, 6-3 in his favor.
The Medvedev Machine passes Nadal! 💪
Will it go all the way on Sunday? 🏆
📹: @TennisTV | @DaniilMedwed | #NittoATPFinalspic.twitter.com/EldpQpAFRV
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 21, 2020
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