Russia’s Danil Medvedev beat US Jared Donaldson 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-1) 4-0 to keep his hopes of reaching the semifinal alive.
Medvedev broke Donaldson four times and saved five of the six break points he faced.
Donaldson fended off a break point before clinching the first set with a 7-4 in the tie-break. Medvedev fought back by winning the second set 4-2 and went up a break in the third set. Donaldson broke back to draw level to 2-2. The second set came down to the tie-break. Medvedev raced out to a 5-0 lead en route to winning the breaker by 7-1. Medvedev fended off three break points and got a double break to seal the win in four sets after one hour and 28 minutes. He will have to wait the final evening match between Borna Coric and Karen Khachanov. Medvedev has now a win-loss record of two wins and one loss and will advance if Coric beats Khachanov in the final round-robin group on Thursday evening.
“It was a very tough match. Jared had nothing to lose. He played amzing in the first couple of sets. I managed to stay in the match. It was very tough because it’s the first time I play in a round-robin group. I am happy with win and I hope to be through in the semis. It was a good season for me. I had some ups and downs but I got a lot experience on the tour. I want to keep working to improve next season. I am an all-round player. I have not the best shot on the tour but I don’t have any weak points. I have to work physically and mentally because that’s where I am a bit lower than other guys. I have been sixk this year, which is I guess is still feeling right now, because to have cramps after 1 hour and 30 minutes with Karen is a little bit strange. That’s the most important part. I think that the shot clock is a good rule change. I had some time violations in my career, but sometimes you walk around, start to bounce the ball and you get the violation. I don’t have a timer in my head. To see if it was already 25 seconds. It’s pretty fair. If you get a time violation, you can this, so it’s your fault. That’s what I want to see on the ATP Tour”, said Medvedev.
