The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas signed his first victory at the ATP Finals (Masters Cup) in Turin after a marathon against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, whom he eliminated after more than two hours of exchanging direct blows that was decided in two fundamental tie-breaks , of a great tennis level and to remember (6-3, 7-6 (11) and 7-6 (1)).
The duel between the two losers of the first day of the red group, also champions of the tournament, eliminated a Medvedev who bordered on the epic, the feat, after a tiebreaker in the second set in which he saved three match points to extend the contest to a third set in which he despaired before the resistance of his Hellenic rival.
Medvedev is a tough nut to crack, tell Tsitsipas otherwise, who easily won the first set of the match 6-3, breaking the Russian's first serve, learning from what was his mistake in his defeat against the Serb Novak Djokovic, but who saw his presence in this tournament that puts the finishing touch to the season almost complicated by a titanic effort from the Muscovite.
Medvedev woke up in the second set and exhibited the resilience that characterizes him so much and, despite being uncomfortable, he reacted again under pressure, a situation that already seems to be common in Moscow.
He kept his serve, just like the Greek, and the stake was decided in a tie-break to remember, a fight open to nothing, with an open body, without gloves, between two greats on the circuit who did not want to give up anything, in which Tsitsipas enjoyed three match points that he will surely remember for a long time, and in which Medvedev won the game on his fourth set ball, after thirteen points.
The hammer of the fourth favorite carbureted in the second set with seven aces and kept pace with another seven before the final 'tie-break'.
Tsitsipas gave up his serve in the seventh game, leaving the comeback to Medvedev on a platter, who felt like a winner for a moment. He served with a 5-4 lead, just four points away from taking the game. He wasted his opportunity against the solid defense of Tsitsipas, who appeared at the best moment, recovered, broke and dunked his opponent.
The final tiebreaker began almost with a definite winner. The high level of the first caused the stands to turn after the show, but Medvedev was out. Gestures towards his bench, negative with the head, snorts. Tsitsipas was whole, he had recovered, with extra energy obtained after the last break.
He rolled over the Hellene. He gave no choice. Seven to one and to think about Rublev, in a new all-or-nothing game. Whoever wins passes, whoever loses goes home.
