Medvedev storms back to beat Thiem and claim ATP Finals title

Daniil Medvedev barged to the pinnacle of the queue of younger pretenders because the Russian captured the most important title of his profession by beating Dominic Thiem 4-6 7-6(2) 6-Four in an absorbing climax to London’s final ATP Finals on Sunday.

Thiem was on track to turn into the primary Austrian to win the title, following on from his current U.S. Open triumph, however the relentless Medvedev turned the tide to strike a blow for the brand new technology striving to shake up the tennis hierarchy.

There was no huge celebration as he fired an unreturnable first serve on match level to finish the 2 hours and 42 minutes scrap, bringing the curtain down on 12 memorable years on the O2 Arena earlier than Turin takes over as host of the match.

Fittingly the London period ended because it started with a Russian winner after Nikolay Davydenko took the 2009 title.

Sadly for an occasion that attracted 2.eight million followers through the years to the Thames-side enviornment, the finale, a classic version, performed out in a silent enviornment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the hundreds of thousands watching on TV may have appreciated the ability of Medvedev, who turned solely the fourth participant in ATP historical past to beat the world’s prime three on the similar match.

He joins David Nalbandian (Madrid 2007), Novak Djokovic (Montreal 2007) and Boris Becker (Stockholm 1994).

“It’s amazing,” Medvedev, who earned $1.56 million as an unbeaten champion, informed reporters. “I beat Novak (in the group), Rafa in the semis and Dominic, the best players in tennis right now. It shows what I’m capable of.”

IMAGINATIVE GAME

Medvedev’s imaginative sport, a mix of sledgehammer energy, crafty angles and unreadable serving, proved past Djokovic within the group part after which second-ranked Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s semi-final.

The 27-year-old Thiem appeared to have mastered it however finally was overwhelmed.

“I think Dominic was a little tired in the third set and to make him tired in a three-set match is tough,” Medvedev stated.

His triumph got here a yr after a chastening three defeats on his debut. The solely different participant to realize such a drastic turnaround is Djokovic in 2008.

After such a scorching streak, together with claiming this month’s Paris Masters, the Moscovite was due a dip and it arrived within the first set as he threw away a 40-Zero lead on serve at 2-2, gifting Thiem a break with a double-fault.

It proved sufficient for Thiem to pocket the primary set and he went for the short kill within the second as Medvedev’s often rock-solid serve and forehand wavered.

MENACING MEDVEDEV

The Russian hung powerful although, saving break factors at 2-2 and 3-3, and started to look menacing because the tiebreak arrived.

Thiem led 2-Zero however Medvedev reeled off seven factors in a row to make sure London’s farewell would go the gap.

Thiem, who had additionally overwhelmed Nadal and Djokovic this week, had spent two extra hours on court docket than Medvedev to achieve the ultimate and his silky sport started to fray.

Medvedev stalked him together with his energy and accuracy and the Russian secured the very important break of serve at 2-2 with a stealthy strategy and volleyed winner.

Thiem dug in however world quantity 4 Medvedev by no means appeared like letting his lead slip as he turned the fifth successive first-time winner of the title.

Medvedev’s friends Alexander Zverev, 23, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, 22, gained the final two titles right here however neither have gone on to assert a Grand Slam.

Medvedev will enter 2021 as the person almost definitely to make that breakthrough for the much-hyped subsequent technology.

“For tennis there are exciting times coming,” Thiem stated of the brand new vanguard. “Super important for the sport in general.”

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis/Ken Ferris/Paul Simao)