ATP: Medvedev is the first to qualify for the semi-finals

Russian Daniil Medvedev, ranked third in the world, became the first to qualify for the semi-finals of the final ATP tennis tournament, beating German Alexander Zverev VII 7-6 (9-7) and 6-4 on Wednesday in Turin in the second round of the red group competitions. .

It is Medvedev’s second victory in the tournament after the first over his compatriot Andrey Rublev V 6-4 and 6-2 on Monday, while Zverev suffered his first loss after defeating Spaniard Carlos Alcarsa II 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 and 6-4 on the same day. .

Medvedev, who was eliminated in the group stage last season, was required to win in two clean sets to reserve his ticket, while Zverev needed to win any result to ensure his qualification.

Medvedev needed an hour and 44 minutes to beat Zverev and reserve his ticket to the semi-finals of the tournament, which he won in 2020 at the expense of Austrian Dominic Thiem. He finished runner-up in 2021 when he lost to Zverev.

Medvedev hit hard at the start of his 82nd match this year, breaking Zverev’s serve in the first game, leading 1-0 and then 3-1, but the German returned the greeting in the sixth game, realizing a 3-3 tie.

The tie between the two players continued until the twelfth game, 6-6, then they went to a tie-break, which the Russian decided in his favor, 9-7, and thus the set was 7-6 in 68 minutes.

The tie imposed itself in the second set until the tenth game, 5-5, before Medvedev succeeded in breaking Zverev’s serve in the twelfth game and ended the set in his favor, 6-4.

Medvedev said after the match: “It was a very difficult match mentally (…) I have lost matches like this this season. “I’m happy I was able to win tonight.”

It is Medvedev’s eleventh victory over Zverev in 18 matches between them so far, including 5 victories in 6 matches this year, one of which was in the eighth-final of the 1000-point Rome Masters on his way to his surprise crowning of the title on its clay courts last spring, and he is one of 5. Titles won by the Russian this season.

Zverev, who won the tournament in 2018 at the expense of Serbian Novak Djokovic and in 2021 at the expense of Medvedev, still has a chance of reaching the round of four, as he will face Rublev in the third and final round on Friday.

In the same group, Alkaras achieved his first victories by defeating Rublev 7-5 and 6-2.

Alkaras, who is participating in this tournament for the first time in his professional career after his absence last year due to injury, lost his first match to German Alexander Zverev VIII 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 4-6.

Alkaras said: “I am happy to achieve my first victory in the ATB Final Championship here in Turin. “I played at a high level and I am completely satisfied with my performance.”

He continued: “My first match was very difficult, and it was difficult after that, but I am happy with my reaction.”

The victory is the first for Alkaras since the ninth of last October, noting that he was eliminated in the first round of the Paris-Bercy 1000-point Masters tournament last week.

Alkaras must defeat Medvedev in the third round on Friday to ensure his qualification to the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Rublev suffered his second loss after the first to Medvedev and left the competition empty-handed.

The competition was intense in the first group between Alkaras, who won the Wimbledon Championship this year, and Rublev, who reached the semi-finals of this tournament last year.

The tie remained 5-5 until the tenth game, until Alkaras was able to break the Russian’s serve before winning the set 7-5.

After Rublev lost his serve at the beginning of the second set, the Spaniard succeeded in breaking it again in the seventh game and taking a 5-2 lead, then decided it in his favor 6-2 and thus the match.