Danil Medvedev claimed his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto with a 6-4 6-3 win over US Reilly Opelka. Medvedev has become the first Russian player to win the Canadian Open since Marat Safin in 2000.
Medvedev has won 11 of his 12 titles on hard court and has improved his record to 4-1 in Masters 1000 finals. He clinched ATP Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Shanghai in 2019 and in Paris Bercy and in the ATP Finals in 2020.
Opelka wasted all four break points in two different games. Medvedev earned three breaks of serve and hit 16 winners to 13 unforced errors.
Opelka earned three break points in the fourth game, but Medeved saved them to hold serve with an unreturned serve.
Medvedev broke serve with a return winner to take a 3-2 lead with his backhand down the line. Opelka saved two break points before Medvedev held serve to 15 with a service winner in the 10th game to claim the first set 6-4 after 38 minutes.
Opelka saved a break point at the start of the second set before Medvedev earned a break to take a 2-1 lead after a double fault from Opelka. Medvedev fended off a break point in the sixth game when Opelka hit a drop shot wide.
Medvedev closed out the second set with his second break at 5-3.
“I could not have dreamt of this at one point. With Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal playing, it seemed like an untochable achievement. Now I have four wins in five finals, which is a good score. I am just happy. I want to achieve more. I am really happy I achieved this in Canada. Even today, Opelka played some really good points. He was fighting until the end. He saved break points in crucial points. Playing your first Masters 1000 final is not easy. I played my first in Canada and won only three games. Playing Canada and Cincinnati, the goal is to win as many matches as possible. I was able to do it two years ago and i will try and do it again”, said Medvedev.
Opelka beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. The US player reached his first Masters 1000 final in Rome and won two ATP Tour titles in New York in 2019 and Delray Beach in 2020.
