Medvedev kicks off title defense with comeback

Daniil Medvedev started at idle speed at the 2021 ATP Finals, the Masters Cup that opened its headquarters, the Pala Alpitour in Turin, a majestic and very pleasant rectangular pavilion inside where the Russian he came back to beat Hubert Hurkacz in three sets: 6-7 (5), 6-3 and 6-4 in two hours. The Pole, who entered the tournament benefited by the absence of Rafa Nadal, scratched at a great height in the first round, gradually diluted at the hands of the reigning champion and world numbers two.

Medvedev lifted the trophy last year after beating the ranking leader (Djokovic), second (Nadal) and third (Thiem). Thanks to its success, the fact of a Russian, Nikolay Davidenko, was the first winner of the Masters in London (2009) and another the last one in the farewell of the city as organizer of the event remained for the story.

Hurkacz, debutant in the competition of the best of the course and second Polish who is among them after Fibak (finalist in 1976), paid the hazing before a Medvedev who was adjusting things and came back from an adverse result in a three-set match. Since 2020 he has a 15-2 record in that initial disadvantageous situation. The two defeats were conceded in the 2020 ATP Cup against Djokovic and in the Mutua Madrid Open against Garín.

Merits

The fact is, Daniil deserved the win, because he didn’t give his rival a single break option (“I’ve never really been under pressure,” he said) and he only made eight unforced errors. He will face the winner of the duel between Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday.

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