Daniil Medvedev Concludes Torrid 3 Weeks with Cincinnati Title

PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI

Daniil Medvedev in press following his title.  

Sunday marked the third consecutive ATP Final in as many weeks for Daniil Medvedev.  After losing in Washington to Nick Kyrgios and in Montreal to Rafael Nadal, the lanky Russian defeated David Goffin 7-6(3) 6-4 to claim his first Masters 1000 title.

Medvedev won 90% of his first service points in the match (27/30) and finished with ten aces and just a single double fault on the day.  In the opening set, Medvedev broke Goffin in the fourth game but was broken back in the seventh game.  After Medvedev failed to cash in on two break points in the next service game, each player held serve comfortably leading into the tiebreaker.  Neither player was able to win a point in the first four points of the breaker and at 2-all, Medvedev won five of the next six points to take it 7-3.  

Goffin served to open the second set and was broken at 15.  Then Medvedev proceeded to hold serve at love in his next four service games.  Goffin would also hold each time he served and it was up to Medvedev to serve out the match for the title.

After dropping the first two points, the Russian hit an ace but lost the next point.  Goffin was in prime position to break back!  However Medvedev had other ideas as he hit powerful aces on the last three points of the match to win.

In the semifinal against world number one Novak Djokovic, Medvedev altered his strategy and started to go big on his second serve.  After dropping the opening set 3-6, the Russian found himself serving at 0-30 at 3-all.  It was at this moment that he decided to go big on his second serve.  At the end of the match, the Russian hit five second serve aces and ultimately won 3-6 6-3 -3 to advance to the final.

Following the Final, Medvedev elaborated on his accomplishments:   "Yeah, it's been the best weeks in my life. I mean, as I say, mentality was the best in my life. My serve was the best in my life. My tennis was really consistent. I didn't have one bad match. I'm just extremely happy. And hopefully I can continue this way well through all my career but hopefully at least next few weeks."

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Cincinnati Tennis Fan]

Nice to have a focus on Daniil Medvedev, considering his epic 5-set war with Rafael Nadal in the US Open Final. I think you nailed the key to Medvedev's success: adaptability.... He changed his serving strategy when he had to, and beat world #1 Djokovic.