Novak Djokovic downs Daniil Medvedev in three-hour victory to remain unbeaten at the ATP Finals and heads for semi-final clash while the Russian crashes out of the tournament
- Novak Djokovic beats Daniil Medvedev in AT Finals to remain unbeaten in Turin
- The Serbian battled in a three-hour victory to win 6-3 6-7 (5) 7-6 (2) in a tie break
- Russian Medvedev leaves the tournament having suffered three tie break losses
Novak Djokovic battled to a three-hour victory over Daniil Medvedev to remain unbeaten at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic was already guaranteed to top the group and play Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Saturday but he dug deep to avoid defeat, completing a 6-3 6-7 (5) 7-6 (2) victory after three hours and 11 minutes.
The 35-year-old was clearly struggling physically late in the second set and into the third and Medvedev served for the match at 5-4 in the decider, but Djokovic found a way back.
Novak Djokovic celebrates keeping his unbeaten record in a 6-3 6-7 (5) 7-6 (2) win over Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals in Turin
The Serbian told Amazon Prime Video: “It’s a huge relief. Daniil and I had some battles in the past and I knew coming into the match today it’s going to be his last match of the season and he is definitely not going to want to finish the season with a loss.
“I started off very well, had my chances early in the second. He just played very well in those decisive moments. I didn’t feel physically so well in the third set to be honest, I struggled a lot staying physically there.
“I’m really proud of being able to find that last drop of energy and necessary focus in order to come back into the match.
Medvedev, who the tournament in 2020, has lost all three games in Turin on tie-breaks
Djokovic praised his rivalry with Medvedev after the game went to a three-hour tie-break
“This match against one of the greatest rivals I have today was very important regardless of the fact I’d qualified already and I really wanted to win.”
Medvedev, who won the title in 2020 and reached the final again last year, leaves Turin having lost each of his three group matches in deciding tie-breaks.
Defeat for doubles pair Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis to Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic (7-6 7-6) paved the way for Britons Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski to face each other in the semi-finals.
Liverpool’s Skupski and Dutchman Wesley Koolhof, who beat Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, are top seeds but would have exited if the Australians had prevailed.
Instead they will now face Salisbury and his American partner Rajeev Ram in a rematch of the US Open final.
Neal Skupski (right) and doubles partner Wesley Koolhof with battle Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram in a rematch of the US Open Final
Advertisement