Daniil Medvedev saves two match points, overcomes jeering crowd to beat Alexander Zverev in Monte Carlo Masters thriller
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Updated 14/04/2023 at 05:25 GMT
Daniil Medvedev looked set to be heading home on numerous occasions but completed an incredible comeback to beat Alexander Zverev in a pulsating last-16 match. The last match of the day was delayed due to rain but it was worth the wait as both players produced some sensational tennis and dramatic moments. Medvedev prevailed and will face Holger Rune in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters
Highlights: Medvedev saves two match points to beat Zverev
Daniil Medvedev saved two match points and battled jeers from the crowd to beat Alexander Zverev 3-6 7-5 7-6(7) to reach the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Zverev twice served for the match and had two match points but could not get over the line as Medvedev incredibly kept his head to produce a stunning fightback.
He will face Holger Rune in the last eight on Friday, after the Dane had a walkover due to a muscle injury for his scheduled opponent Matteo Berrettini.
“It was a crazy match,” said Medvedev. “I tried to watch a lot of tennis before playing this tournament and everything I saw is that you could come back at any moment.
“As soon as someone gets a little bit tight, the match can turn around in one second and that’s what I managed to do.”
Asked about his decision to tell the crowd to be quiet when they jeered, he added: “The thing is I saw Novak’s [Djokovic] match today and I was just talking to the referee about the mark. Some people start booing and I was like I’m not going to play until you shut up.
“After the Australian Open final, if something happens I don’t like, I’m like, ‘OK guys, you can do whatever but I’m not going to play until you stop. As long as there is sound I’m not going to play.'”
Medvedev broke first to lead 2-1 but it seemed to force Zverev to play freely, as the German broke back immediately.
Suddenly, Zverev was on the front foot and had Medvedev with his back up against the wall as he won the next three games to go 5-2 in front. Medvedev pulled a game back, before Zverev held serve to seal the set in 41 minutes.
At the start of the second, Medvedev went on the attack and broke straight away. However, Zverev drew level to make it 2-2 with a sense of deja vu in the air.
Both players were now hitting some superb shots and Medvedev broke for a second time in the set with a brilliantly controlled, sliding backhand when running to the net.
A double fault from Medvedev gave Zverev the break back, before the next two games were shared with the score now at 4-4.
At 30-30 on the Medvedev serve, the Russian made back-to-back double faults which handed the game to his opponent and pulled out one of the net poles to the amusement of Zverev.
But, Zverev couldn’t serve out the match as the roller coaster second set continued. In the 11th game, Medvedev told the crowd to be quiet when they booed him as he enquired about a shot that was called out.
It clearly fired Medvedev up because he held serve and broke Zverev to send the match to a decider.
The opening five games went on serve with Medvedev finding it easier to hold his service games. A remarkable sixth game eventually went the way of Zverev after Medvedev failed to take five break-point opportunities.
Zverev finally had a break chance of his own at 4-4 and took it to serve for the match, an hour after his first attempt at reaching the quarter-finals.
Just like the first time, Medvedev produced the goods when he needed to by breaking to stay in the match, then saved a break point in the next game.
A final set tie-break was required to provide a winner and it was Medvedev who led 4-2 with a mini break.
Zverev got back to 5-5 with some extraordinary play, including a perfectly executed lob and great hands at the net.
The first match point went to Zverev, but he hit a return long and also squandered a second chance one minute later with the tie-break now at 7-7.
In one final twist, Medvedev took the final two points to win in three hours and five minutes.
Earlier on Thursday, Novak Djokovic was shocked by Lorenzo Musetti in a fiery last-16 encounter.
Another surprise was Jan-Lennard Struff beating Casper Ruud in straight-sets, while there were wins for Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fitz.
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