Ths year’s Paris Rolex Masters champion Danil Medvedev broke three times in his 6-3 6-3 victory over tournament debutant Diego Schwartzman in the Tokyo 1970 round robin Group at the ATP Finals in London without dropping a set in the tournament so far.
Schwartzman saved three break points to hold serve after three deuces in the first game of the opening set. Medvedev broke twice in the third and ninth games to win the first set 6-3.
Medvedev converted his third break point in the fourth game to open up a 3-1 lead. The Russian player saved two break points to hold serve after three deuces and won his final two service games at love to seal the second set 6-3. Medvedev won 88 % of his first serve points and saved the two break points he faced.
Medvedev has extended his winning record to 5-0 in his head-to-head matches against Schwartzman.
“I was playing great in the two previous matches. I think it is always good to stay undefeated for the confidence. I wanted to win the match, so I am really happy that I have done it. I was serving good today, so that helped me throughout all the match”, said Medvedev.
Medvedev lost all his three round-robin matches on his debut at the ATP Finals last year. This year he completed a perfect 3-0 record.
Medvedev set up a semifinal clash against Rafael Nadal.
“I like playing all of the Big Three. When I was so young, starting to hold the raquet and just started to be interested in tennis. I started to watch Grand Slams. First it was Roger winning everything, then Rafa came and started to make his mark and then it was Novak. Novak and Rafa were my idols when I was starting to play tennis. It is a great pleasure to play against all of them and I am really looking forward to tomorrow. The fact that the two young guys won the groups is not a big advantage. When Sasha had won the title he had lost to Novak in the group“.
Nadal leads 3-0 in his three head-to-head matches against Medvedev and beat his Russian rival last year in the Canadian Open final, at the US Open final and in the Round robin match at the ATP Finals in London.
“Rafa played well yesterday, I have to play my best tennis to try to win. I will not think a lot about the match with Rafa from last year. A new match is a new match, we both changed a few things in our game, so no thinking about last year except from a few tactical things. A new match is never the same. Even you can play him in round robin, you can play, you can win, and you can lose in the final, something like this. I am just looking forward to tomorrow’s match”
The impressive run to the semifinals makes Medvedev one of the favourites for the title this weekend.
“”When it’s four people left, even if you give yourself very few chances it’s 25%. I played great in Paris, so I can see why some people see me as favourite, but everyone is playing great, there are the four best players in the world. I am playing good right now, enjoying it, hopefully I can continue until Sunday. . It’s never easy to predict anything in tennis. Anybody can win the tournament. For first seeds came out through the groups to play tomorrow, which is amazing. The four best players in the world at the moment. We talk about rankings. Talking about my game, I definitely was playing good last year, when I made six finals, so it’s tough for me to compare, but I am definitely playing good right now”.
Medvedev congratulated with tournament debutante Diego Schwartzman after the match.
“Diego had an amazing season, clay is his favourite surface and he delivered even if there were not many events on clay. I am happy to see him here, 0-3 in the first Master does not mean anything. I can say from experience, hopefully he can quaify for next year“
Schwartzman won just 58 % of his service points. The Argentine finished the best year of his career with a 25-15 record and reached the semifinal at Roland Garros and teh final in Rome.
“Watching this tournament, the players I played against, where I am now, it means a lot for me, with the best guys on tour, but I have to keep improving. I am really proud, as I did many great things in many weeks this year, but I have the feeling that I need to improve a lot to be here again. We wll try to come back here and do better than these three matches”, said Schwartzman.
