The inaugural edition of the ATP Next Gen Finals kicked off on Tuesday afternoon in the Milano Fiera with the all-Russian match between Danil Medvedv and Karen Khachanov.
Seventh seed Danil Medvedev fought back from one set down to upset Karen Khachanov in four sets by 2-4 4-3 (8-6) 4-3 (7-2) 4-2. Khachanov leads the field with 25 match wins this season but has a 6-18 win-loss record on hard-court.
Medvedev fended off the first break point but Khachanov got the first break after the first deciding point to take the 1-0 lead.
Medvedev, who reached eight quarter finals this season and played his first final in Chennai, clinched a deciding point at 1-3 40-40. Serving for the set at 3-2, Medvedev went up 0-40 but Khachanov clawed his way back to 40-40 before clinching the first set on the deciding point.
Medvedev missed a set point on a deciding point at 3-2 in the second set but clinched a tight tie-break by 8-6.
Medvedev got the first break of the third set. Khachanov broke back, as Medvedev netted a down the line forehand.
Khachanov fended off a break point at 2-2 with a crosscourt pass. The third set came down to the tie-break, where Medvedev earned the first mini-break. Khachanov got it back immediately. Medvedev got another mini-break, when Khachanov made his third double fault, and never looked back to take the third set.
Medvedev sealed the match and the lead in the Group B with a break in the sixth game of the fourth set, as Khachanov sent an inside-in forehand wide.
“Because I started cramping in the end, which is very strange, so I was happy about these rules. I could finish the match with one game. Otherwise with the normal format it would be tougher. I really liked it. It was very very fun for me. It’s something new and fresh. Especially at the end of the season, when you are tired, it was really cool to play with these rules. ”, said Medvedev.
Khachanov was happy with the new rules but said that they made the match a bit short and challenging.
“I would say it was a good test, but let’s say the sets were too short. I think that playing until four games you have more opportunities maybe to break the guy. We have many let calls, so I could not say anything. It’s okay. About the deciding point, it was definitely a tough one becuase in important moments on your serve, I think it’s easier to break the guy, so it’s a little more lucky. To break the guy in normal game you have to win two points in a row, so it’s much tougher. About the coach rule, I think this is more like a show. It’s good for the people who are watching the matches. To see this and to hear what we are talking about with the coach. In general I liked the atmosphere. It was nice to play on the center court. Everything was good, yeah. ”, said Khachanov.
