Rivalries: Medvedev vs. Zverev

Standing at 6’6”, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev’s attributes have helped them attain the highest of the sport. The pair crush serves and are good defenders, utilizing their lengthy levers to hold in factors and switch the tables.

When going through off, Medvedev and Zverev have had tight clashes on Tour. Zverev gained the primary 4 matches of their rivalry, however Medvedev has since responded, successful 5 of their previous six encounters. Locked at 6-6 of their ATP Head2Head sequence, they’ll meet once more on Tuesday within the fourth spherical on the BNP Paribas Open.

“I am certain we’ll have a whole lot of rallies,” Medvedev mentioned waiting for the conflict. “It should come right down to who makes after 20 photographs, one of the best shot to attempt to put your opponent off stability, which isn’t simple to do right here.

“He is coming again, he is enjoying higher and higher. I feel he is not but at the place he was when he bought injured, however each new match towards a high participant is a chance for him to convey again this degree. So I’ll must attempt to play my finest, and postpone it for at the least [the] subsequent match.”

Forward of their thirteenth encounter, ATPTour.com appears to be like at three of their previous blockbusters.

Miami Open offered by Itau 2018, Second Spherical, Zverev d. Medvedev 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5)
Miami was a particular place for Zverev initially of his profession. It was the positioning of his first ATP Masters 1000 win in 2015 in addition to his first Prime 10 victory on the elite degree in 2017 when he defeated high seed Stan Wawrinka en path to the quarter-finals.

In 2018, his second-round victory towards Medvedev acted as a springboard for additional success, with the German occurring to succeed in the ultimate (l. to Isner).

Taking a 2-0 ATP Head2Head sequence lead towards Medvedev into the match, Zverev mixed energy with guile. The then-20-year-old fired 25 winners through the match and induced Medvedev bother together with his backhand slice. He compelled Medvedev low and disrupted his rhythm to attract errors within the third-set tie-break, together with a misfired forehand on match level.

“He is top-of-the-line servers on Tour,” Zverev mentioned. “On his serve, something can occur. I used to be simply comfortable to take my probabilities within the tie-break and capitalise at 6/5 to win the match.”

Competing for the 2 hundredth time at tour-level, Zverev improved to 126-74 together with his win.

ATP Cup 2021, SF, Medvedev d. Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
In simply the primary week of the 2021 season, Medvedev and Zverev met in Melbourne as they competed on the ATP Cup.

Medvedev had swept apart Diego Schwartzman and Kei Nishikori in his opening two matches of the 12 months, whereas Zverev had downed Denis Shapovalov earlier than he misplaced to Novak Djokovic in three units.

Enjoying underneath the closed roof on Rod Laver Enviornment, Medvedev performed patiently as he overcame a serving onslaught from Zverev by adjusting his return place, standing deeper behind the baseline to rally from a break down within the second set. In a decent decider, a double fault from Zverev gave Medvedev the late break at 6-5 and from there he secured victory, warding off 5 break factors in his last service sport to win.

“When it is towards Sascha and you’re 6-3, 3-2 break down, many instances you are going to lose a match,” Medvedev mentioned. “However I wanted to maintain my probabilities alive for the staff initially, for the nation. I simply tried to remain there, bought a bit tight perhaps. I simply did my job and I am actually comfortable about it.”

Nitto ATP Finals 2021, Spherical Robin, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6(6)
In one of many matches of the 2021 season, Medvedev and Zverev went blow-to-blow for 2 hours and 35 minutes in group play in Turin, earlier than Medvedev as soon as once more got here out on high to earn his fifth straight win towards the German.

Each got here into the match holding a 1-0 round-robin report after Medvedev downed Hubert Hurkacz, whereas Zverev had led Matteo Berrettini by a set earlier than the Italian was compelled to retire resulting from damage.

The pair, who additionally met within the round-robin stage on the season finale in 2020, struck their groundstrokes fiercely with Medvedev efficiently absorbing the German’s heavy-hitting. In a tense third-set tie-break, Medvedev discovered a deep return on his backhand to maneuver 6/4 forward, however Zverev stepped as much as save each match factors as Medvedev tried to serve and volley. Nevertheless, it solely delayed the end result, with Medvedev sealing victory on his third match level to succeed in the semi-finals.

“Positively one of many matches to recollect,” Medvedev mentioned.

Zverev shortly gained revenge, nonetheless, snapping a five-match dropping streak to defeat Medvedev 6-4, 6-4 within the championship match 5 days later to clinch his second Nitto ATP Finals crown.

View their ATP H2H sequence right here.