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LONDON – Daniil Medvedev burst to the head of the queue of young suitors as the Russian captured the biggest title of his career by beating Dominic Thiem 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in an absorbing climax for the last ATP of London. Finals on Sunday.
Thiem was on his way to becoming the first Austrian to win the title, following his recent US Open triumph, but the relentless Medvedev turned the tide to strike a blow at the new generation struggling to shake up the tennis hierarchy.
There wasn’t much of a celebration as he fired an unrecoverable first serve at match point to end the two-hour, 42-minute fight, bringing down the curtain on 12 memorable years at the O2 Arena before Turin takes over the venue. of the tournament.
Fittingly, the London era ended as it began with a Russian winner after Nikolay Davydenko took the 2009 title.
Sadly, for an event that drew 2.8 million fans over the years to the Thames-side stadium, the finale, an old edition, unfolded on a quiet stage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the millions of television viewers will have appreciated the skill of Medvedev, who became the fourth player in ATP history to beat the world’s top three in the same tournament.
He joins David Nalbandian (Madrid 2007), Novak Djokovic (Montreal 2007) and Boris Becker (Stockholm 1994).
“It’s unbelievable,” Medvedev, who made $ 1.56 million as an undefeated champion, told reporters. “I beat Novak (in the group), Rafa in the semifinals and Dominic, the best tennis players at the moment. It shows what I’m capable of.”
Imaginative play
Medvedev’s imaginative play – a combination of mallet power, crafty angles and unreadable serve – edged out Djokovic in the group stage and then runner-up Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s semi-final.
Thiem, 27, seemed to have mastered it, but was eventually overwhelmed.
“I think Dominic was a bit tired in the third set and to tire him in a three-set match is difficult,” Medvedev said.
His triumph came a year after punishing three defeats in his debut. The only other player to make such a drastic change is Djokovic in 2008.
After such a good streak, which included claiming this month’s Paris Masters, the Muscovite was on the verge of falling and came in the first set when he threw a 40-0 lead on serve at 2-2, giving Thiem a break with a double. guilt.
It was enough for Thiem to pocket the first set and he went for a quick kill in the second as Medvedev’s serve and forehand, usually rock solid, faltered.
Menacing Medvedev
However, the Russian held his ground, saving break points at 2-2 and 3-3, and began to look threatening when the tiebreaker came.
Thiem led 2-0, but Medvedev scored seven points in a row to ensure that London’s farewell went all the way.
Thiem, who had also beaten Nadal and Djokovic this week, had spent two more hours on the court than Medvedev to reach the final and his silky game began to fray.
Medvedev stalked him with his power and precision and the Russian secured the vital break of serve at 2-2 with a stealth approach and a volley winner.
Thiem clashed, but world number four Medvedev never seemed to let his lead slip by becoming the fifth consecutive first-time winner of the title.
Medvedev’s teammates, 23-year-old Alexander Zverev and 22-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas, have won the last two titles here, but neither have managed a Grand Slam.
Medvedev will enter 2021 as the man most likely to make that breakthrough for the highly publicized next generation.
“Exciting times are ahead for tennis,” Thiem said of the new cutting edge.
“Super important for sports in general.” —Reuters
