Daniil Medvedev remains the only unbeaten player at the ATP Finals after he fought from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) ,6-3 and reach his first final at the season-ending tournament.
The win means he will face off against Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s showpiece at London’s O2 Arena and guarantees a new winner of the competition.
Medvedev started brightest, controlling his serve and forcing Nadal to serve and volley in order to stay level in the set.
The Russian constantly probed on the Spaniard’s serve but spurned three break points in the third game to take the lead.
Having not troubled the world No 4 on serve, it came as a surprise when Nadal broke to love to bring up a 5-3 lead in the opening set.
Consequently, it gave the 20-time Grand Slam champion the opportunity to serve for the set which he duly did.
However, the break that seemed inevitable for Medvedev came at the first opportunity in the second set as Medvedev raced to a 3-0 lead.
Nadal managed to stay within touching distance saving a break point at 4-1 before breaking twice himself to serve for the match.
Yet, the Russian showed heart to break to love and spark a comeback.
Medvedev took an early lead in the tie-breaker, which Nadal was unable to recover from, eventually winning it 7-4 and forcing a deciding set.
Medvedev failed to convert a break point in the first game of the final set as Nadal once again was forced to cling onto every service game.
Yet unlike the first set, Nadal’s serve and volley tactic wasn’t enough to keep the Russian at bay who finally broke the Spaniard’s serve to take a crucial 4-3 lead.
Medvedev was then able to break again to record his first-ever win over the Spaniard.
Following the match, the Russian explained how he changed tactics to swing the match in his favour: ‘It felt like I was doing great shots but there was no link in my game and that was why I was losing. He was better in the important moments, I couldn’t return in the important moments, I couldn’t make a good shot in the important moments.
‘I decided to change some small things. Just being closer, going for it a little bit more. I felt like I had the chances to win some games, a set maybe, but it didn’t work, so I had to change and it worked really well. I am really happy about it.’
The final is due to take place at 6pm on Sunday, with Thiem leading 3-1 in the head-to-head record between the two finalists – winning their most recent encounter in straight sets, in the semi-finals of the US Open.
By Sajidur Rahman
