The 2021 ATP Finals - Day 7 - Final
2021 Nitto ATP Finals, on Hard Indoor, in Turin, Italy, 14-21 November 2021.
Defending champion:
Daniil Medvedev (4) who defeated Dominic Thiem (3) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4
Final:
Daniil Medvedev (2) (Russia) v Alexander Zverev (3) (Germany)
Medvedev had won the past five of the meetings between the pair, to lead the head to head 6-5.
Three of those wins were this year, and one in the round robin stage of this tournament.
Medvedev was aiming for a 14th title in his 22nd final, already having won four titles this year.
Zverev was aiming for a 19th title from his 28th final, already having won five titles this year.
Both players were attempting to win a second ATP Finals title, Zverev triumphant in 2018, Medvedev defending champion.
Zverev broke in the third game of the final, and Medvedev was under pressure again in the fifth game, needing to save another break point.
Apart from these two games, serve was held with ease and Zverev led 4-3 4-0, having dropped only two points on his delivery.
A double fault and rare error, caused a slight blip, but the third seed cleared things up with a winner and was within a game of taking the set.
Serving for the set at 5-4, Zverev was soon at 40-0, two aces assisting. Medvedev’s return was out of court on the second set point and Zverev clinched the set 6-4.
Medvedev began set two with uncertainty, a double fault and unforced error seeing him down 15-30. A brilliant Zverev return followed up with a backhand winner gave him a break point. Medvedev pulled a forehand wide and Zverev was in a dominant position, a set and break ahead.
Zverev had no trouble maintaining the break, until the sixth game where he was taken to deuce. Still, neither player faced a break point beyond the opening game and Zverev went to the line at 4-3, supremely confident.
A comfortable hold took the German to 5-3 and a breath away from glory.
Medvedev, serving to stay in the match, stood at 15-30, but two big serves gave him a game point. Inexplicably the Russian netted a backhand and it was deuce. A wonderful lob when under all sorts of pressure gave Medvedev another game point. However, Zverev hit a forehand winner to return it to deuce.
Eventually Medvedev held serve, and left it to Zverev to serve for the title.
Zverev pushed a forehand long. 0-15. Medvedev returned the favour and 15-15. A tremendous forehand down the line winner from Zverev. 30-15.
A big first serve, and Medvedev couldn’t keep the return in court - two championship points.
A second serve ace and Zverev was home.
Alexander Zverev defeated the world number one to reach the final, and the world number two to win the final of the ATP Finals 6-4 6-4.
Six titles for 2021, including Olympic gold.
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