Tennis News

Medvedev Saves 2 MPs, Maintains Perfect Turin Record

Daniil Medvedev will head into the semi-finals at Nitto ATP Finals in strong form after he captured his third consecutive round-robin win Thursday, topping Red Group with a 3-0 record.

The World No. 2, who secured qualification for the last four on Tuesday when he beat Alexander Zverev, saved two match points as he edged home favourite Jannik Sinner 6-0, 6-7(5), 7-6(8) in front of a lively crowd at the Pala Alpitour in Turin.

“It was tough,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “Mentally it was tough knowing the match was dead. But I did not want to lose my rhythm. I won the first set quite easily and I was like, lets continue this way. The second set was about an hour or so and then it is the third set. But you’re not going to not play the third set because I like to win, I don’t like to lose. I am happy I won.”

Medvedev has now won his past eight matches at the season finale, having defeated Dominic Thiem to lift the trophy when the event was held in London last year.

In an entertaining match, the Russian hit with consistent depth against Sinner as he used his flat groundstrokes to pin the Italian back. Medvedev recovered from a break down in the third set and saved match points at 5/6 and 7/8 in the third-set tie-break to extend his ATP Head2Head series lead against the 20-year-old to 3-0.

Medvedev, who beat Hubert Hurkacz in his opening round-robin match, will play either Casper Ruud or Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals, with the pair facing off Friday in a winner-takes-all clash. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has already won the Green Group and will take on Zverev in the last four.

“When I know that I am in the next round and I am waiting for my opponent, I watch the match to see how they play,” Medvedev added. “So I am just going to watch it and enjoy it and wait for the winner.”

Earlier this season, Medvedev earned his fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Toronto, before he ended Djokovic’s Grand Slam hopes by defeating the Serbian in the US Open final to capture his maiden major title. The Russian is now 57-12 on the year.

Medvedev flew out of the blocks against Sinner to quickly quieten the crowd inside the Pala Alpitour. The Russian hit with power and precision from the baseline in the first set, committing just three unforced errors in the set as he closed out points with ruthless efficiency to seal the opener in 26 minutes.

The second set followed a different pattern though as Sinner grew into the match. The Italian showed his grit and quality as he broke to move 3-1 ahead. However, all it did was rile up Medvedev, who broke back immediately. The pair then moved to a tie-break, and it was Sinner who held his nerve to level, raising his arms in the air as he marched back to his chair.

In a tight third set, Medvedev battled back from 2-4 as he used his experience to regain some control. But Sinner remained strong on serve as a tie-break was left to decide the match. Medvedev and Sinner played aggressively in the tie-break, with both striking the ball with great power. After saving match points at 5/6 and 7/8, it was Medvedev who secured victory after two hours and 32 minutes when he hit a backhand winner on his second match point.

The first alternate Sinner defeated Hurkacz on his debut at the season finale on Tuesday following Matteo Berrettini’s withdrawal due to a left oblique injury. However, despite a valiant effort, he was unable to make it back-to-back victories against Medvedev.

The 20-year-old won four tour-level titles in a breakthrough 2021 season and will finish the year inside the Top 10 of the FedEx ATP Rankings.

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Retirees Honoured At 2021 Nitto ATP Finals

Five recent retirees — Steve Darcis, Martin Klizan, Julian Knowle, Paolo Lorenzi and Viktor Troicki — were honoured on Thursday at the Pala Alpitour during the Nitto ATP Finals.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi presented each player with a frame celebrating their greatest accomplishments before they all later took to centre court for a special ceremony.

The last player who walked on the court, Lorenzi, is Italian. The 39-year-old, who retired following this year’s US Open, climbed as high as No. 33 in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Lorenzi made history in Kitzbühel in 2016 when as a 34-year-old he became the oldest first-time singles champion in ATP Tour history (since 1990).

“It’s unbelievable. I really missed the fans in New York, I played my last match without people,” Lorenzi told ATPTour.com. “To finish here in Italy with this ceremony is really important to me. I had time to say goodbye to everyone and I had the people close to me throughout my career. I will miss this and them a lot.”

The highest-ranked singles player of the group was former World No. 12 Viktor Troicki. The Serbian won three tour-level singles titles in his career, including back-to-back triumphs in Sydney in 2015 and 2016.

^{Photo Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour}
Former World No. 24 Martin Klizan, who completed his career at Wimbledon this year, won six ATP Tour titles. His biggest triumph came in 2016 at Rotterdam, where he earned four of his five wins in three sets.

Belgian Steve Darcis, known for his creative game, reached World No. 38. When he was 33, Darcis became the third-oldest player to debut in Top 40 since 1975. He also claimed the first tour-level victories of his career en route to lifting the trophy at Amersfoort in 2007. Fans also remember his big win against Rafael Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon in 2013.

“I will take the two Davis Cup finals, the two titles I won in Amersfoort and Memphis and also my win against Nadal, because everybody is talking about this. I will take these with me and never forget those moments.”

The doubles player in the group was former World No. 6 Julian Knowle, who was already in Turin this week coaching doubles competitors Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau. The Austrian lifted 19 tour-level titles, including a major victory at the 2007 US Open alongside Simon Aspelin.

“First of all, a big thanks to the ATP for having me and putting me one more time on the big stage. It was a very nice feeling. Nothing to regret about my career. It was emotional when they told me about this retirement [ceremony] for the players,” Knowle said. “It was not always easy, but at the end it worked out pretty well and I have no regrets.”

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Peng Shuai: Serena Williams says case 'must be investigated'

Serena Williams says the case of Chinese player Peng Shuai “must be investigated” and urged people “not to stay silent” about her welfare.

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Mektic/Pavic Keep Alive Hopes Of 10th Title In 2021

Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic are still in the hunt for a 10th ATP Tour-level title of 2021 after reaching the semi-finals in Turin.

The top-seeded Croatians defeated sixth seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek 6-4, 7-6(6) in their final round-robin match at the Nitto ATP Finals to join fourth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the semi-finals.

The defeat marks the end of the partnership between Australian Open champions Dodig and Polasek, but their Croatian opponents seemingly go from strength to strength. The duo won 56 of their first 61 matches in 2021, including titles at Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics and three ATP Masters 1000 events.

After both teams defeated eighth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau earlier in the week, the semi-final spot came down to a straight fight in the final round-robin match of the Green Group. Mektic and Pavic led the ATP Head-to-Head 2-1, but had lost arguably the biggest match of the rivalry when Dodig and Polasek triumphed in the Australian Open semi-finals. Three of the four players had also featured in the gold medal match at the Tokyo Olympics, where Dodig had partnered Marin Cilic to the silver medal.

Mektic and Pavic got off to the brighter start, breaking Dodig and Polasek at their first opportunity in the fifth game. Although Dodig and Polasek fended off four break points at 2-4 to stay in touch and had two break points of their own as the Croatians served for the set, Mektic and Pavic were able to close out the opener in 38 minutes.

Dodig and Polasek broke immediately to lead 2-0 in the second set, but Mektic and Pavic soon broke back. The Croatians raced to a 4-1 lead in the tie-break before being pegged back on serve by some strong returning from Dodig, but ultimately Pavic landed a return winner for a second match point and then converted with a big serve.

This will be Pavic’s first appearance in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals, while Mektic won the title with Wesley Koolhoff in 2020.

Mektic and Pavic will have to wait to find out who their semi-final opponents will be, with three teams in the Red Group still in contention going into the final day of round-robin matches on Friday.

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Zverev On Djokovic Semi-final: 'I'm Expecting Another Tough One'

Alexander Zverev has set his sights on raising his game for a semi-final blockbuster against Novak Djokovic on Saturday at the Nitto ATP Finals.

The German star, who beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 6-4 to complete Green Group action with a 2-1 record on Friday, has already played World No. 1 Djokovic four times this season.

“We have played each other in basically every single big hard-court event this year, at the ATP Cup, Australian Open, Olympics and US Open,” said Zverev, who beat Djokovic en route to the Tokyo Olympics gold medal in August. “So it’s only right that we play each other here as well.”

Djokovic won their ATP Cup clash 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5 in February and 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6) in the Australian Open quarter-finals. Zverev won their Tokyo semi-final 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, before Djokovic beat the 24-year-old once again, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, in the US Open semi-finals.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Zverev, ahead of their 11th ATP Head2Head meeting. “It’s always interesting and close when we play each other, so I’m expecting another tough one… There will be a lot of long rallies, we will run a lot more and suffer, in a way, a lot more as well.

“I think every single match we have played has been close. We’ve needed to be at our best and one or two points decided the matches. I expect no different here as well.”

The World No. 3 knows that Djokovic has a strong following in Italy, but Zverev has also enjoyed his time in Turin. “I love Italy a lot and I think the fans can relate to me as well,” said Zverev, who won the 2017 Internazionali BNL d’Italia crown in Rome. “The food is great… I feel that the Italian fans are louder, they are electric and into the sport.”

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Hurkacz: 'I Have Gained A Lot Of Experience'

Hubert Hurkacz may have not won a match on his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin this week, but the Pole believes he has lots of positives to take from competing at the event as he looks to return next year.

The 24-year-old demonstrated his capabilities as he claimed the first set in his opening match to Daniil Medvedev before losing in three. Hurkacz then fell to Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in the Red Group as he was unable to find top form at the Pala Alpitour.

“I have gained a lot of experience,” Hurkacz said. “I definitely want to be back here and compete at a better level because I know I can play better than I played this week. I started well and then just didn’t’ play well enough and sometimes that happens.”

Hurkacz earned his place at the season finale after enjoying a breakthrough season. The World No. 9 captured tour-level titles in Delray Beach and Metz, while he also clinched his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Miami.

When reviewing his year following his final match of 2021, the Wimbledon semi-finalist was pleased with the success he has achieved, but admits he can make further improvements.

“I think it was a great season. I learned a lot, which was very big for me. The improvements I have made [gave me] the opportunity to be here and compete here. I am learning about what to work on. It is nice to have a lot of things to improve in my game. My return and my forehand are things I want to work on.”

Medvedev and Sinner will round off Red Group action on Thursday evening. Medvedev has already secured top spot, with Alexander Zverev qualifying in second following his victory against Hurkacz.

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ATP Finals 2021: Alexander Zverev to face Novak Djokovic in Turin

Germany’s Alexander Zverev will face world number one Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals last four after a straight-set win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.

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Fibak On Hurkacz & Swiatek: 'We Have Two Diamonds'

Hubert Hurkacz has surprised some in the tennis world with his breakthrough season, which included a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Miami Open presented by Itau and a trip to the Wimbledon semi-finals. But fellow Pole Wojtek Fibak, a former Top 10 star in singles and doubles, is not surprised.

This week Hurkacz became the second player from Poland to compete in singles at the Nitto ATP Finals, joining Fibak, who made the championship match at the event in 1976. Fibak is thrilled with the state of tennis in his country given the rise of Hurkacz and WTA star Iga Swiatek.

“We have these two diamonds. It’s like one in a million at the same time,” Fibak told ATPTour.com. “There are not that many countries with a man and woman [at this level]. You have Nadal and Muguruza [in Spain], Tsitsipas and Sakkari [in Greece]. It’s amazing… It’s unique, it’s a blessing. After I finished playing, no Polish player played at Wimbledon for 20 years. Twenty years! After [Agnieszka] Radwanska retired, boom, they came!”

^{Photo Credit: Wojtek Fibak}
After Hurkacz defeated Denis Kudla in the second round in Miami this year, Fibak declared to the Polish press that Hurkacz would win the tournament. It was a bold statement considering he had never made it past the quarter-finals at a Masters 1000 event.

“Everybody said Wojtek is out of his mind!” he recalled.

But it proved prophetic, as Hurkacz has gone on to great success in 2021. In October, the 24-year-old cracked the Top 10 in the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time.

“Hubert is an all-around player. He’s phenomenal on defence, he’s excellent attacking, has a great backhand, great forehand, big serve, great return. He doesn’t miss when he doesn’t have to,” Hurkacz said. “The only thing now with Hubert if I would say one weakness is when there is pressure that he has to win a match and he is a big favourite, he has problems with that. That’s how the road to the [Nitto ATP Finals], there were a couple of very tense matches.”

Even so, Hurkacz has tested the best players in the world in recent weeks. The Pole battled Novak Djokovic into a final-set tie-break in the semi-finals of the Rolex Paris Masters and pushed Daniil Medvedev deep into a third set in the first match of Red Group play this week in Turin.

“The way he played against Medvedev, the way he played Djokovic in Paris, right now he’s No. 4 on hard courts right after Djokovic, Medvedev, Zverev and then it’s Hubert,” Fibak said.

Fibak is very supportive of Hurkacz, consistently watching his matches. This week, he is in Turin to cheer on his countryman.

“I think everybody loves him for being so polite and so kind. I’ve given hundreds of interviews by now over the past three or four years about Hubert. I was the first to call him the Polish Andy Murray four years ago because of the way he walks and being a bit phlegmatic also,” Fibak said. “I said there’s a phenomenal talent hidden there. Today a lot of people are not convinced that Hubert is so good, because he doesn’t have such an explosive personality. He’s not Italian, French, British or American.

“Being Polish, he’s not so well-known even though he’s a Wimbledon semi-finalist and won Miami. He’s not a household name yet worldwide, in Poland he is. He’s a bit shy, he’s modest, he has a quiet personality. He’s not coming up with some lines. But he’s a phenomenal player.”

Fibak is certainly happy with how Hurkacz is carrying the torch of Polish tennis. This is Hubi’s first Nitto ATP Finals appearance, and all signs point towards there being plenty more to come.

“I’m really proud that a Polish guy has such soft hands, such feeling for the ball,” Fibak said. “He is a great player to watch, he’s correct, he’s a gentleman, always full of fairness. I can only speak in superlatives about Hubert.”

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Melbourne's Ashes Test and Australian Open will welcome capacity crowds

England’s Test match against Australia in Melbourne and next year’s Australian Open tennis tournament will welcome full crowds after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the state of Victoria.

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WTA Finals: Garbine Muguruza beats Anett Kontaveit to win season-ending tournament

Garbine Muguruza beats Anett Kontaveit in straight sets to win her first WTA Finals title in Guadalajara, Mexico.

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