Flashback Canada: Daniil Medvedev destroys Dominic Thiem in under an hour!

World no. 9 Daniil Medvedev had found the winning formula in Washington and Montreal last year. In Washington, the Russian lost a tight final to Nick Kyrgios in two tie breaks, determined to fix that in Montreal and chase the title. In the first three encounters, Daniil lost 13 games overall, reaching the second Masters 1000 semi-final after Monte Carlo thanks to a dominant 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Daniil Medvedev in 56 minutes! Earlier last year in Barcelona, Medvedev won just four games against Thiem in Barcelona, avenging that defeat and staying on the title course. Dominic won the title in Kitzbuhel in the previous week and couldn't make a quick transition towards hard on another continent, beating Denis Shapovalov and Marin Cilic but losing all the energy ahead of the encounter with an in-form Russian. It was all about Daniil who hit 18 winners and eight unforced errors, leaving pale opponent on a 9-21 ratio as Dominic never found the rhythm.

The Austrian left the court with a grimace on his face, playing miles below his best to end the campaign in the quarters. The Russian lost seven points on serve and stole half of those played on the return, dominating in both the quickest and more extended rallies to impose his shots and forge the advantage with four breaks from nine opportunities. Dominic was broken in the first game of the match when his backhand slice landed long, finding himself 2-0 down after a hold at love for Medvedev, who never put a foot wrong. Thiem held at 15 in game three to get his name on the scoreboard, unable to deal with Daniil's powerful serve as the Russian opened a 3-1 advantage. Working hard to stay in touch, Thiem grabbed a couple of games on his serve before sending a forehand wide at 3-5 to hand the opener to his opponent after 29 minutes.

In Montreal last year, Daniil Medvedev ousted Dominic Thiem in 56 minutes.

Daniil held in the first game of the second set with a lucky net cord forehand winner, earning a break at love in game two following a double fault from Thiem. Another forehand winner pushed Daniil 3-0 in front, delivering another break in game four and holding at 15 with a perfect drop shot to increase the advantage, winning twice as many points than Dominic. Serving to avoid a bagel, Thiem saved a match point after a backhand error from the Russian, bringing the game home with a smash winner to stay away from a complete disaster. Serving at 5-1, Daniil landed an ace down the T line to seal the deal in style, racing into the semis where he would face another Russian Karen Khachanov. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2CFpW1m