ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev loses top game against famous Daniil Medvedev

“This is a match that will be remembered. It was unbelievable. I just knocked everything out on the last point. That’s tennis – sometimes you’re lucky, sometimes not,” said Medvedev. “I still have the chance to win the tournament. The tournament is not over yet,” said loser Zverev fiercely. “I think we both played pretty well.”

Zverev went into the game with the mortgage of four defeats in a row against the number two in the world – and has now lost the fifth game against the US Open winner in a row (5: 6 overall balance).

At the beginning, both players found it difficult to get their serve through. After Zverev missed two break chances in the first game, Medvedev struck a few minutes later and took a 2-0 lead. After 14 minutes it was 3-0 for the defending champion, who fended off another break chance for the German.

“So far, Medvedev has made the more alert and lively impression on me,” analyzed ex-professional Patrik Kühnen, who accompanied the encounter as a TV expert for “Sky”. The 25-year-old also had clear advantages afterwards, got significantly more free points – and took the break advantage to win the first set.

Hawk Eye for foot faults causes a stir

Zverev remained snappy, fended off two breakballs from the Russian in the first service game of the second set. In the seventh game, Medvedev again had the chance to take the service from the German – but Zverev held against it and prevented the break.

So it went almost logically in the tiebreak – and it was shaped by a curious scene: Medvedev tried the hawk eye to challenge a foot error against himself. But it didn’t help, the point to 2: 1 went to Zverev. The US Open winner was now attacked and addressed the audience with slightly provocative gestures.

Zverev used the momentum and got the set compensation 7: 3. Above all, it was the significantly improved service game that brought the world number three back into business.

Zverev and Medvedev with a crime thriller in the tie-break

The level of the game continued to rise, there were no advantages for either player at the beginning of the third set. Both Zverev and Medvedev served confidently, until the tenth game there was no break chance.

Then Zverev had the opportunity to take Medvedev’s service game to 6: 5. He let it slip away. Shortly afterwards it was clear that the third movement would also be decided in the tie-break, which developed into a crime thriller.

Zverev took the lead 3: 1, then fended off two match balls at 4: 6. After two hours and 35 minutes, Medvedev finally ended the game in his favor, celebrating the fifth win in a row against Germany’s number one.

Red group: Medvedev already through

With a two-set win, Zverev could have secured the ticket for the knockout round early, but now he has to win the final group game against Hubert Hurkacz in order to make it to the semifinals.

Medvedev, on the other hand, is already in the semi-finals, regardless of the outcome of the game against Sinner.

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