World number 3 and the reigning champion of Doha, Daniil Medvedev, will not be participating in the upcoming ATP 250 event. As a result, the organizers have faced another setback, as both Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev have withdrawn from the tournament within a 24-hour period. The Russian player requires additional time off the court to recover from the physically demanding Australian Open, which has led to his absence from this week’s ATP 500 event in Rotterdam. He will be taking an extra week to recuperate.
Daniil is also scheduled to play in Dubai in two weeks, where he will be defending his championship title. At the Australian Open, Medvedev reached his sixth Grand Slam final, marking his third appearance in Melbourne. Throughout the tournament, the Russian spent extensive hours on the court, overcoming two instances where he was two sets down. This ultimately led to him facing Jannik Sinner in the title match, where he unfortunately suffered a defeat with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, after three hours and 44 minutes of play. This loss further worsened Medvedev’s record in major finals.
If Sinner wins the title in Rotterdam, Medvedev may drop out of the top 3 in the rankings by Monday. However, it is worth noting that the Russian performed exceptionally well in February of last year, following his early exit from the Australian Open. During that period, he secured three consecutive titles within a span of three weeks. One of these victories came in Doha, where he defeated Andy Murray with a final score of 6-4, 6-4, in one hour and 46 minutes.
In the match against Murray, Medvedev outperformed his opponent in crucial moments, thereby securing a higher number of points. He successfully saved five out of seven break points and capitalized on four return games out of eight opportunities. Additionally, Andy managed to keep up with Daniil in rallies consisting of four strokes or less, showcasing his skills in that particular aspect during his 71st ATP final. However, Medvedev’s dominance became evident in longer rallies, where he outplayed the three-time Doha champion from the baseline. The encounter began with Murray facing four break points in the opening game, resulting in a forehand error on the fourth break point, which allowed Medvedev to take an early lead.
The Russian further solidified his advantage by hitting a backhand winner in the second game. Although he faced two break points at 2-1, Daniil successfully saved them with winners and held his serve to establish a 3-1 lead. Andy’s performance began to decline following his missed opportunities, leading to another break in the fifth game and a widening gap between the two players. However, instead of extending his lead, Medvedev committed a double fault in the sixth game, granting Murray an opportunity to regain one break. The Briton held his serve in the seventh game and even created a break chance in the subsequent game, thanks to a fortuitous net cord winner.
The Russian player successfully defended a crucial point with a powerful serve and held his position for a score of 5-3. The player with the higher ranking then served for the first set in the tenth game and effortlessly held his serve, winning the set with a score of 6-4.
In the second set, Andy made an error by hitting the net with a forehand shot, resulting in a loss of serve and putting him a set and a break behind. Daniil, on the other hand, displayed great skill by holding his serve twice, giving him a 3-1 lead. However, he faced some difficulties in the sixth game. Murray took advantage of an exciting moment and managed to break back, equalizing the score at 3-3 and increasing his chances of winning.
Both players showcased strong serving abilities in the seventh and eighth games, and Andy seemed poised to continue his streak after gaining a 40-0 lead at 4-4. However, Daniil turned the tables by winning five consecutive points, securing a crucial break after his opponent made a mistake with a volley. With a score of 5-4, Daniil served for the victory.
Although Medvedev initially failed to convert his first match point in the tenth game, he quickly redeemed himself by winning the second with a lob shot, ultimately celebrating his second consecutive title in as many weeks.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org