Medvedev notches first win at ATP Finals, Djokovic up next

Daniil Medvedev’s ATP Finals debut final 12 months proved to be a chastening expertise as he suffered three defeats however on Monday the Russian made his mark with a gap win towards 2018 champion Alexander Zverev.

The 24-year-old’s 6-Three 6-Four win put him joint high of the Tokyo Group alongside world primary Novak Djokovic, who placed on a masterclass to trounce debutant Diego Schwartzman 6-Three 6-2.

Medvedev will face Djokovic on Wednesday and can take coronary heart from the truth that the Serb additionally misplaced all three of his group matches on his debut in 2007 however returned a 12 months later to beat Nikolay Davydenko to say the title in Shanghai.

Djokovic has gained 4 extra titles for the reason that occasion moved to London in 2009 and, judging by the best way he clicked easily into gear on Monday, will take some stopping as he bids to equal the six of Roger Federer.

Medvedev is not going to be wanting confidence although after an excellent show towards Zverev who as soon as once more struggled to manage his serving gremlins.

“I actually didn’t know that he (Djokovic) was 0-3 in his first appearance,” Medvedev, who additionally beat Zverev to win this month’s Paris Masters, informed reporters.

“I also saw today that he’s won 12 consecutive opening (group) matches at the ATP finals so hopefully I can do the same.

“I like to play against Novak and I’m looking forward to it.”

The opening video games towards Zverev have been curious.

Medvedev gifted up his first service sport with a double-fault, then Zverev served three double-faults in succession at hand the break again. Medvedev, initially struggling along with his forehand, then survived a break level within the third sport, profitable a brutal rally with some unbelievable court docket protection.

Zverev labored extra time making an attempt to remain stage at 2-3, solely to throw away the sport with consecutive double-faults.

From then on Medvedev was too stable, taking the primary set with an ace and breaking within the seventh sport of the second set as Zverev once more wavered.

Medvedev, one of many sharpest thinkers on a tennis court docket, threw in an underarm serve at 4-3, 30-30 however served out in additional typical style at 5-Four to seal the win.

“Since the restart it was one of my worst matches,” Zverev, who might want to beat Schwartzman on Wednesday to remain within the hunt, informed reporters.

“It was not good enough to beat a top 10 player today. If I play like today I won’t win any matches this week.”

Just as fellow debutant Andrey Rublev was simply dispatched by Rafa Nadal on Sunday, Schwartzman was powerless to cease Djokovic on a court docket that might have been made for his sport.

Djokovic dropped his serve early on on the just about empty O2 Arena, the place on Sunday he was introduced with the ATP’s end-of-year primary award for a record-equalling sixth time.

But from that second on he was immaculate.

He broke again instantly after which pounced once more when Schwartzman served at 3-4, outmanoeuvring his opponent earlier than pummelling away a forehand winner into the nook.

With no followers within the 18,000 enviornment to rally to the Argentine’s underdog trigger, world quantity 9 Schwartzman by no means seemed able to extending the competition.

Djokovic secured two breaks within the second set and clinched victory with a minimal of fuss.