ATP Tour Finals Day 8 as it happened - Daniil Medvedev is the champion after beating Dominic Thiem
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Updated 22/11/2020 at 21:03 GMT
ATP Finals Day 8 as it happened - Daniil Medvedev, who ended Rafael Nadal's bid for a first ever title, sinks Dominic Thiem after a brilliant final at the O2 Arena.
Daniil Medvedev, vainqueur de Rafael Nadal en demi-finale du Masters 2020
Image credit: Getty Images
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GAME, SET AND MATCH! – MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 6-4 THIEM
The comeback kid does it again. Medvedev hits back from a set down, just like he did against Rafael Nadal, to claim the biggest title of his career to-date. The Russian serves it out to 30 on his first match point after a brilliant two hour and 42-minute final against the US Open champion. It proves to be another disappointment for Thiem, who must make do with being the runner-up for the second straight year.
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Russia's Daniil Medvedev wins the 2020 ATP Tour finals
Image credit: Getty Images
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 5-4 THIEM
Big credit to Thiem again. He looks shattered but unloads a succession of backhands to turn a 15-30 dilemma into a cracking hold. He poses the serve-out question. Will Medvedev keep his nerve?
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 5-3 THIEM
It’s looking good for Daniil. He chalks up a superb love hold with another foray into the net and is one game away from the title.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 4-3 THIEM
Domi stays in touch with a morale-boosting love hold, but needs to find something special now with his energy levels clearly dropping.
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Dominic Thiem in action against Daniil Medvedev in the final of the 2020 ATP Tour finals
Image credit: Getty Images
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 4-2 THIEM
That’s really disappointing for Thiem. He scorches a crosscourt return to make deuce from 40-15 down. Clutch serving puts Daniil back in front, but then Domi misses a clear-cut pass to allow the Muscovite to consolidate.
BREAK! – MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 3-2 THIEM
Wow. That was some game of tennis. Thiem shows incredible defiance to fend off two more break points, but this time the Russian refuses to be denied. He makes a surprise dart into the net on the third and beautifully volleys away a winner.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 2-2 THIEM
No such drama for Daniil. He swaggers to a quick-fire love hold.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 1-1 THIEM
Lots of gesturing and glances at his corner from Thiem. He’s not thinking as clearly as he was following that tie-break blow and Medvedev’s adaptability and mid-game tactical shifting is reaping some reward. All square early in the decider.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 0-1 THIEM
Close! Medvedev drills a backhand up the line that narrowly misses the baseline. It would have given him two break points. Thiem gleefully takes the let off but still has to come through a couple of lung-bursting rallies to earn his hold.
SET! – MEDVEDEV 4-6 7-6 THIEM
We are heading into a decider. Medvedev hits back from 2-0 down in the tie break to claim seven points on the spin and keep his dream of winning this trophy alive.
Tie break latest
Thiem races 2-0 up but just misses a forehand up the line on the run. Medvedev surges back and it’s 4-2 to the Russian at the change of ends.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 6-6 THIEM
No danger there. The US Open champion eases to a hold to 15 and he’ll now hope for more tie break joy that would see him land this title.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 6-5 THIEM
Nervy moments for Medvedev as he turns anxiously to see a Thiem lob drop just long at 15-15. An ace and a top-class serve and volley get him through and he’s guaranteed the tie break if Thiem holds his nerve next.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 5-5 THIEM
And that he does. The world number three pumps his fist as a wide service-winner claims a solid hold to 15.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 5-4 THIEM
Medvedev brushes off the disappointment and marches to a simple hold to 15. Scoreboard pressure for Thiem to handle.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 5-4 THIEM
Medvedev brushes off the disappointment and marches to a simple hold to 15. Some scoreboard pressure for Thiem to handle.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 4-4 THIEM
A bit of drama as Thiem slips changing direction on the first point. It looks very awkward and Medvedev is quick to enquire if he is okay. Thiem jumps to his feet and says he’s fine. The Austrian has to regain his composure quickly as a stunning rally at 30-30 ends with the No.4 seed crashing a majestic crosscourt winner. Once more, Thiem snatches the chance away and somehow gets out of danger. Medvedev will rue a crosscourt drive that was wide by a millimetre and a poor miss at the net.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 4-3 THIEM
Could that be significant? There’s big, big trouble for Daniil but he somehow escapes. A misfiring forehand sees him choke up break point and a high bouncing volley allows Thiem to charge into the net. The Austrian thinks he has it but prods wide. He shrugs off the dismay to carve out another opening but sees it snatched away by a huge serve. Thiem then misses two very make-able forehands and screams at himself repeatedly. Medvedev lets him finish and then slaps down an ace to get out of dodge.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 3-3 THIEM
It’s back-to-back love holds for Thiem as he eases level once more. After some intriguing sparring, it’s about to get serious at the business end of this set.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 3-2 THIEM
The Dominator conjures up a gorgeous return and makes his first real move in Set 2 by snaring a break point. Medvedev fends it off with a big serve but is frustrated by Thiem’s incredible defence in the face-off at deuce. It takes some doing in the end, but the Russian maintains his concentration to get over the line.
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Dominic Thiem
Image credit: Getty Images
MEDVEDEV 4-6 2-2 THIEM
The backhand down the line takes centre stage. Thiem is locked in on serve this time as he powers to a comfortable hold to love.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 2-1 THIEM
The Bear is on the hunt. He corks a backhand up the line to close the game to 30 and keep his nose in front.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 1-1 THIEM
Once again Thiem plays the big points better than his opponent. Medvedev applies some heat with an awkward but effective defence of the net to make 30-30. Thiem doesn’t bat an eyelid though and eases through the next two points to get on the board.
MEDVEDEV 4-6 1-0 THIEM
That’s a fabulous response. Medvedev remains calm for now, despite that Set 1 blow. He opens the second with a confident hold to earn the scoreboard advantage. He took Rafa down after dropping the opener, so he’ll still have plenty of belief.
SET! - MEDVEDEV 4-6 THIEM
First blood to Domi! The Austrian bites back from 15-30 to reel off a trio of points and take the opener in 49 minutes. Medvedev’s frustration is clear as he nets two make-able shots before seeing a Thiem forehand clip the net and fly beyond him on set point. He shakes his head but has a little chuckle about it with his opponent as they take their seats and the world number three apologises. That's a great reaction and brilliant to see given what is at stake.
MEDVEDEV 4-5 THIEM
Serve-out question posed in rapid fashion.
MEDVEDEV 3-5 THIEM
Too good. Thiem breezes through a love hold and is one game from taking the opener.
MEDVEDEV 3-4 THIEM
That’s more like it from the No.4 seed nicknamed ‘bear’ (Medved means bear in Russian). The first serve does the job as he stays in contention for the los of one point.
MEDVEDEV 2-4 THIEM
The Dominator goes too big on a pair of forehands and shakes his head in disappointment as 40-15 becomes deuce. Medvedev hangs around to increase the heat, but Thiem stays focused and a ferocious forehand right into postage stamp territory helps him nudge him through to consolidate.
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Dominic Thiem attempts a backhand against Daniil Medvedev at the ATP finals
Image credit: Getty Images
BREAK! – MEDVEDEV 2-3 THIEM
Where did that come from? Medvedev looks in complete control as he roars 40-0 up all too quickly. He blazes a crosscourt forehand just long and from there it becomes a dog fight. Thiem defends brilliantly to make deuce when the Russian dumps a smash into the net. The Austrian then shows lovely touch at the net to snare the break point and then watches on as Medvedev coughs it up with a double fault. A horror show in the end for Daniil.
MEDVEDEV 2-2 THIEM
That’s a far less arduous service game for the US Open champion. He slams down an ace to conclude it to 15 in style.
MEDVEDEV 2-1 THIEM
That’s clutch from Daniil. A double fault puts him in trouble at 0-30 but he rattles through four superb points in a row, landing a third ace on the way to pull through.
MEDVEDEV 1-1 THIEM
Medvedev cranks up some early pressure on the Thiem serve and dictates from deuce to earn a couple of break points. The Austrian rises to the challenge and swats away a fizzing forehand and an ace to save both. It’s a real battle for the world number three, but he eventually gets on the board after a 10-minute examination.
MEDVEDEV 1-0 THIEM
No sign of any nerves from Medvedev and why would there be after the week he’s had. He follows up a wonderful drop volley with a couple of errors, but then lads a pair of aces to get off to a confident start.
Coin toss
Thiem wins it and chooses to receive first. Cue the warm up.
View from the baselines
Medvedev: “Dominic is playing amazing right now. I practised with him and we had good rallies, a really good level of tennis.”
Thiem on beating Djokovic: “It was for sure a mental battle. I got so tight in the second-set tie-break, first of all because to play these legends is always going to be something special."
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"To beat Rafa you need everything" Medvedev after overcoming Nadal to reach final
Head to head
Thiem leads the match-up 3-1. The Austrian won their most recent clash 6-2 7-6 7-6 in the semi final of this year’s US Open.
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Daniil Medvedev of Russia and Dominic Thiem of Austria tap rackets at centercourt after Thiem won their Men's Singles semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2020 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Image credit: Getty Images
One last time in 2020 - it's time for tennis
Good evening and welcome to LIVE updates of the final of the 2020 ATP tour finals. It’s the world number three against the world number four as US Open winner Dominic Thiem locks horns with the in-form Daniil Medvedev. Let’s hope for a blockbusting show as London bids farewell to the season-ending finale.
Semi-final recap
Medvedev roars back to beat Nadal and set up final with Thiem
A sensational performance from Daniil Medvedev saw Rafael Nadal's long wait for a triumph at the ATP Finals continue in London.
Nadal, who clinched his 13th Roland Garros crown and wanted to end his year with a first win at the season-ending event, won the opening set and looked in fine shape.
But the fourth seed was not to be counted out and continued his unbeaten run at the O2 Arena by storming back in fine fashion to prevail.
Thiem battles past Djokovic to reach final in London
Dominic Thiem demonstrated his power and resilience as he beat Novak Djokovic in three tough sets to reach the final in London.
For the fifth time in their last six meetings the pair could only be separated by a deciding set, and it was another astonishing clash as Thiem came through after plenty of perseverance.
The Austrian squandered four match points in an epic second set tie-break which he eventually ended up losing 12-10 as Djokovic demonstrated his trademark defensive efforts to extend the encounter somehow.
Incredibly, Thiem even contrived to double fault on one of his match points in the second set breaker, and his opponent was afforded the opportunity to remain in the match on a knife edge.
Having been pushed into a deciding set, the champion in New York may have been downhearted but he showed incredible poise and determination in taking victory after a second brutal tie-break.
The final
Daniil Medvedev v Dominic Thiem (18:00)
What’s the schedule?
The tournament at London's O2 Arena runs from November 15 to November 22.
There will be two singles matches played every day before the semi-finals on Saturday, November 21 and the final on Sunday, November 22.
What were the groups?
Group Tokyo 1970
- Novak Djokovic
- Daniil Medvedev
- Alexander Zverev
- Diego Schwartzman
Group London 2020
- Rafael Nadal
- Dominic Thiem
- Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Andrey Rublev
What's the format?
The eight singles players are divided into two four-player groups, with each player facing their three group rivals and the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. Standings are determined by number of wins and if players are tied then it is decided on by their head-to-head record.
Rublev, who has won five titles in 2020, and Schwartzman, will be competing at the finals for the first time. There will be four players aged 24 and under for the second straight year.
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