Masters Turin 2021 – Daniil Medvedev still flies Alexander Zverev after a hell of a thriller

Bis repetita. As ten days ago in Bercy, Daniil Medvedev managed to bring down Alexander Zverev indoors. But unlike the beating inflicted in the French capital, the Russian this time trembled against the world number 3, winning in extremis in a stunning tie-break after a long match of 2:35 in the third set (6-3, 6- 7, 7-6). This seventh victory in a row at the Masters, the fifth in a row against the German, combined with Matteo Berrettini’s forfeit for the rest of the competition, allows him to secure a new place in the semi-final. .

This time, the clash between world numbers 2 and 3 has taken place. A few days after the spanking received in France, Zverev fought well against the recent winner of the US Open, in a match where the statistics (5 wins on each side including 1 on each side in the Masters tournament before the game of ‘today) made the outcome of the opposition between the defending champion and the winner of the 2018 edition uncertain. But the ascendancy taken two years ago by Medvedev (25) over his 1-year-old junior was once again confirmed.

Medvedev still so insatiable in service

Moreover, at the start of the game, we did not give much of the skin of the gold medalist of the Tokyo Games, who for a long time seemed feverish, under the eyes of his brother Mischa. However, it was Alexander Zverev who immediately got two break points, while Medvedev, very relaxed, allowed himself to miss easy shots. Finally winner of his service game, the Russian played a very bad turn on his opponent, author of a double fault which betrayed his nervousness, by breaking in stride at his first opportunity.

Very quickly, the world number 2 took advantage of this advantage to win the first round and put a little more pressure on his opponent. But the German, on the verge of breaking up after these two break opportunities conceded at the start of the second round, gradually became more relaxed. Better and better at the service (18 aces including 13 in the second act), Zverev has gradually shown more response to a Medvedev always so insatiable behind his throw-in, he who has still not let go of his service in this tournament. .

The server duel took place from the 2nd set

In control with only 4 points dropped before the tie-break behind his service in the second set, Gilles Cervara’s protégé however experienced a small drop in tension, especially on an opposing service game where he led 0-30 before squandering his advantage by two gross faults. And it cost him dearly in a decisive game where, after a foot fault in the service, and against a sharper Zverev, he ended up letting go.

Embarked in the third set, he did not panic, even on a break point conceded to 5 everywhere. As the level of the debates balanced out and increased the pressure, Medvedev showed Olympian calm to reverse a badly started tie-break where, led 4-2, he won 4 points in a row to put Zverev back in. bad posture, before definitely making a difference. He therefore only needed a victory for Hubert Hurkacz against Matteo Berrettini at 9 p.m. to validate his ticket for the last four. He won’t even need it. Injured, the Wimbledon finalist had to give up pursuing the Masters. Medvedev can already look to this weekend …