ATP Sofia: Daniil Medveded topples Gael Monfils to set Fucsovics clash
After winning the most hard-court matches on the Tour in 2018, the 22-year-old Daniil Medvedev is through to his sixth ATP final following a 6-2, 6-4 win over Gael Monfils in an hour and 16 minutes. Monfils took down Stefanos Tsitsipas yesterday but he stood no chance today, losing 46% of the points in his games and suffering four breaks from eight opportunities given to Daniil. The Russian dominated with his serve and groundstrokes, defending the second serve nicely and saving six out of seven break points to bring the match home and move closer towards the fourth ATP crown.
Medvedev drew first blood in the third game, converting the fourth break point to open the gap and creating a 4-1 up when Gael sprayed a forehand error in game five. Facing three break points in the next game, Daniil delivered some excellent hitting to stay unbroken and closing the set with a hold at 5-2 for the best possible start. Gael never reached the zone and he gave serve away in the third game of the second set after a backhand error, trailing 4-1 after a forehand down the line winner from Medvedev who served for the match at 5-2.
Out of sudden, Gael broke at love with a backhand down the line winner to prolong the encounter before Daniil held in game ten to secure the place in the final where he will face the Hungarian Marton Fucsovics. The Hungarian needed two hours and 16 minutes to topple Matteo Berrettini 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 and advance into the second ATP final with a single break in the deciding set. Marton won just two points more than Matteo, repelling six out of seven break points and scoring two breaks to prevail and earn a chance to play for the second ATP title. It was the Italian who delivered better tennis in the opening set but he wasted five break chances before game ten when he had to play against two set points.
Berrettini saved them with powerful forehands and that gave him the momentum, moving 6-5 ahead when Marton sprayed a forehand error and sealing the set with a service winner in the following game for a 7-5. Returning at 4-4 in the second set, Berrettini wasted a break point after a loose backhand and it would cost him dearly, especially after handing the set to Fucsovics who broke him in game 12 with a return winner to steal the momentum before the deciding set. There, Marton broke in the second game when Matteo's forehand landed long and that was all he needed to cross the finish line, making five good holds and cementing the win in game nine after forcing an error from his opponent to join Medvedev in the final.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2Du1RH0
No comments