Final:
Daniil Medvedev (1) (Russia) v Reilly Opelka (USA)
Medvedev led Opelka in the head to head count before the Toronto final 3-1, including a third round win at this year’s Roland Garros.
However Opelka won the most recent hard court clash, indoors in St Petersburg October last year.
After saving three break points in the fourth game of the match, Medvedev held serve, then converted the first break chance he had in the very next game.
Opelka saved two break points in the seventh game to avoid being down a double break, but Medvedev’s subsequent love game was enough to take a 5-3 lead and place pressure on the American to hold serve and stay alive in the set.
Opelka was steady and forced Medvedev to serve it out.
Two unforced Opelka errors and a Medvedev winner brought up three set points, and a double fault was just a slight reprieve. A big serve gave the Russian set number one 6-4.
In game one of set two, Opelka was taken to deuce twice before a Medvedev forehand winner forced a break point. It was saved and deuce was visited twice more on the the way to an eventual service hold.
After a typical simple Medvedev service game to level, Opelka appeared on track in game three. But at 30-15, he was outgunned at the net twice, the second time by his own volleying mistake. A double fault sealed the break and the top seed led 2-1.
A love game consolidated the break and it was 3-1.
At 3-2 and 30-15 Medvedev received an Opelka forehand winner, then contributed a double fault. The Russian saved the break point thanks to immaculate defence and ultimately an Opelka unforced error. Serve was held and Medvedev led 4-2.
Opelka in the next game led 40-30, and in one of the points of the match he threw everything at Medvedev but couldn’t break through the resolute defence; finally even luck was against the American as a net cord forced him to the net and Medvedev lobbed him out of the contest.
An unforced Opelka error gave Medvedev another break opportunity, but a huge swinging serve saw that evaporate in a hurry.
An ace was diminished by a mistake and another deuce arrived. Two successive aces and Opelka trailed 3-4.
A Medvedev love game and Opelka was quickly back to the line, serving to stay in the match.
At 40-30 Opelka netted a forehand - deuce. A backhand winner down the line from Medvedev brought up match point.
Another netted forehand finished the match.
A tremendous performance from Daniil Medvedev saw him win the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, defeating Reilly Opelka 6-4 6-3.
ATP title number 12 from 19 finals for Medvedev, and his third this year.
This was his fourth trophy at Masters 1000 level.
No comments:
Post a Comment