Nitto ATP finals (Turin) – semifinals & final

Final

Alexander Zverev d. Daniil Medvedev    6-4, 6-4    [1:15 h]

Medvedev began to play his best tennis when he was trailing 4-6, *0:2… prior to that moment he had hit just 1 winner! I suppose he was a victim of that what I thought in the middle of his 3rd set vs Sinner. He plays a type of tennis which requires a lot of energy, and he paid the price for three tight three-setters at the round robin stage. Admittedly he defeated Ruud rather easily in the semifinal, but the accumulation of that victory and three preceding ones, probably caused his decision to try saving the energy for a potential 3rd set vs Zverev. When he decided to step up at 0:2 in the 2nd set, it was too late. Zverev converted his first match point with a second serve ace (in ten service games he played ‘deuce’ only once). He has won 5 titles this year (59 matches, more than anyone else), just like the finest player in the world – Djokovic, but the Serb won three majors while Zverev’s two biggest titles (Olympics & Masters) are one level below. The German of the Russian origin is 10 years younger than the Serb, so my bet is that he will finish as no. 1 the next season in which he finally should raise his first major trophy, he’s good enough to actually conquer each of four Slams, not within a season though. “It is special, and I am super thrilled and happy right now,” Zverev added. “There is no better way to end the season than winning here. I am incredibly happy and I am already looking forward to next year.” Stats of the match

Points won directly behind the serve: Zverev 20/54 (37%), Medvedev 18/58 (31%)… Total points: 61-51

Semifinals

Alexander Zverev d. Novak Djokovic    7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3    [2:28 h]

These two players have faced each other in all biggest hardcourt events this year: Djokovic won their major matches (3-1 in Australia, 3-2 in the USA) while Zverev was better at the Olympics and at Masters (2-1 on each occasion). Only in Australia it was a quarterfinal, another three matches occurred in the semifinals. It was rather obvious that Zverev would defeat Djokovic indoors, only if he delivered his best service performance… and it happened in Turin. In the 1st set there was a set point for the Serb as he led 5:4* – Zverev responded with a service winner followed by another one (223 kph second serve!). The crucial break came as he led 2:1 in the 3rd set. The German finished the contest with an ace down the T to hold at ‘love’. “He’s one of the best servers in the world… He showed tonight why that is a fact. He got himself out of trouble a few times with [his] serve,” Djokovic said. “I was serving pretty good, as well. I just had the one very bad game in the third set. Three forehands, one backhand unforced error, really from pretty easy positions. [I] just really wasted the match in that game. Even though I thought it was quite even, had some chances to come back, 2:4 in the third, just missed again, a forehand long (on break point).” Stats of the match

Points won directly behind the serve: Zverev 39/96 (40%), Djokovic 39/92 (42%)… Total points: 98-90

Daniil Medvedev d. Casper Ruud    6-4, 6-2     [1:19 h]

They had played before hardcourt outdoors (Australia) & grass (England), and on both occasions Medvedev left the court as a convincing victor. On hardcourt indoors in Italy the situation was the same… maybe on his beloved clay, Ruud would win at least a set. The Norwegian wanted to be aggressive, he risked his second serve at 1-all (deuce) in the opener, committed a double fault and it was the beginning of his end; Medvedev was better in each department, no signs of fatigue after his three demanding group matches. “As soon as you are a set and a break up you feel like you are in control, but that is when the danger is,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “You need to stay focused and fight for every point. In the last game I had 0/30 on my serve, and until the last point, it is never over. So I am happy I was able to finish it.” He added: “Just three of us left here, so I am looking forward to a great match tomorrow no matter who I play. I had a few tough matches against Novak lately and a few tough matches against Sascha and one here this week, so it is going to be interesting.” I assume when Ruud retires, the ‘Masters’ semifinal will be one of a few highlights of his career. I rather doubt that he’s going to take part in this event next year.

Points won directly behind the serve: Medvedev 12/47 (25%), Ruud 13/62 (20%)… Total points: 62-47