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LONDON (Reuters) – Rafa Nadal’s dream of adding the ATP Finals title to his vast silverware collection ended for another year when the Spaniard was defeated 3-6 7-6 (4) 6-3 by Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in a hot semifinal. -Final on Saturday.
World number four Medvedev’s first career victory over the 20-time Grand Slam champion sent him into a showdown on Sunday against Dominic Thiem, who previously beat Novak Djokovic in another titanic clash.
Medvedev, 24, reached the semifinals as the only player to achieve a 100% record in his group, including a magnificent loss to Djokovic.
He was the best player in the first set against Nadal, but a span of service was all it took for the Spaniard to snatch him away.
Medvedev blew a huge lead in the second set when Nadal was on the verge of falling 5-1. Nadal put a twist on the match and served for a place in the final at 5-4, only for Medvedev to break down in love.
A winning forehand helped Medvedev advance 5-3 in the tiebreaker and he made the most of it to establish a decider.
Nadal seemed to be feeling the pace in a tense final set and some sensational winners allowed Medvedev to take the crucial break of serve in the seventh game.
Two games later, Nadal threw a backhand at the net to give Medvedev a historic victory.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, edited by Ed Osmond)
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