Semi-final day at the Chennai Open was a tale of two contrasting Stories. In a plot-twisting match, young Russian Daniil Medvedev defeated Dudi Sela in three sets. Meanwhile, Roberto Bautista Agut eased past an erratic Benoit Paire 6-3, 6-3.
20-year-old Medvedev encountered a tricky start during his 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2, win over Sela. In the fourth game Medvedev reached the 30-30 on Sela’s serve, but Sela fought back and, also thanks to a second serve on the line, won his service game. In the fifth game it was Medvedev, who was in trouble. The Russian found himself 0-40 down on his own serve, but then started hitting hard with his forehand and eventually took a 3-2 lead. Sela then found his way to a break of advantage on the 3-3 score, when Medvedev, on the 30-40, smashed a shot out. Sela had to face two break-points in the following game, but in the end the Israeli won the set 6-4.
The second set also started with a slow pace, but this time, in the fourth game, Medvedev found a break of advantage. Sela immediately counter-broke and then also went up a break with the score being 5-4 and serve on his advantage. The Israeli went up 40-30 at this point, but Medvedev found a return right on the line on the match-point and then counter-broke, gaining the 5-5. The set ended in a tie-break, which was dominated by the Russian by 7-2.
The third set was much less emotional, Medvedev suddenly broke his opponent and went up 2-0. The young Russian also broke to gain a 5-2 and serve lead, eventually winning the set 6-2 with an ace on his first match-point.
The second semi was much less balanced between Bautista Agut and Paire. Bautista played consistent and aggressive with the forehand, giving Paire many troubles on the right diagonal. The Spaniard was the first to have break-points, but didn’t convert them, at first. With the score being 4-3 in the 1st set in advantage of Bautista Agut, Paire lost his serve and the second seed won the first set 6-3.
Paire, as it often happens in his match, had a mental blackout in the beginning of the second set and went down 0-4 in terms of games. The only emotions the match gave the audience happened soon after, when Paire found his best tennis and recovered until being down 3-4, 30-15 on Bautista Agut’s serve. Paire’s comeback once again “disappeared” from the court and in the end not only did he fail to get the break back, but he also lost his serve on the following game, giving the final victory to his Spanish opponent.
“Paire is a very talented player. When he is focused he is difficult to beat. I played solid today, did all the right things,” Agut said following his win.
Sunday’s final will be the first ever meeting between Medvedev and second seed Bautista Agut.
“Yes, it is going to be a difficult match. He is tall, has a good serve and a number of strokes from the baseline. I will come prepared and play my best tennis,” Agut said about the upcoming final.
