Daniil Medvedev defeats Alex Zverev in straight sets

Updated 16/11/2020 at 22:17 GMT

In the second game in the Tokyo 1970 Group at the 2020 ATP World Tour Finals saw Daniil Medvedev beat Alex Zverev in straight sets to take an opening win. Earlier in the day in the same group Novak Djokovic beat Diego Schwartzman, also in straight sets.

Daniil Medvedev of Russia plays a forehand during his singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day two of the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The O2 Arena on November 16, 2020 in London, England

Image credit: Getty Images

Daniil Medvedev got his ATP Finals campaign off to the best possible start as he beat Alex Zverev 6-3, 6-4 in his first match.

Medvedev, currently ranked fourth, is expected to pose the biggest threat to pre-tournament favourites Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Medvedev went home empty-handed from his debut at the season-ender last year, losing all three matches.

ATP Monte Carlo

'Open your freaking eyes' - Medvedev rages again in Monte Carlo defeat

11/04/2024 at 14:25

But after an error-strewn opening to the match from both players, the 24-year-old dominated the 2018 champion who again struggled with his shaky serve.

Medvedev dumped a second serve in the net to lose the opening game but Zverev served three consecutive double-faults in the next game on the way to handing the break back.

Some brutal baseline exchanges took their toll on both players and Zverev worked overtime trying to stay level at 2-3, only two throw away the game with consecutive double-faults.

From then on Medvedev was too solid for the German, taking the first set with an ace and breaking in the seventh game of the second set as Zverev again wavered.

Zverev won only four of 19 second serve points in the match - a statistic that ultimately proved costly as the wily Medvedev closed out the victory.

Medvedev will face world number one Djokovic on Wednesday. Djokovic opened his quest for a sixth ATP Finals title with a crushing straight-sets defeat of Diego Schwartzman.

Additional reporting from Reuters

ATP Monte Carlo

'Please don’t shout at him' - Medvedev overcomes outburst to beat Monfils

10/04/2024 at 17:30

ATP Monte Carlo

Djokovic eases past Safiullin to reach third round, Zverev overcomes Offner

09/04/2024 at 22:57

ATP Monte Carlo

Zverev ‘tired’ of fielding questions about his post-injury form ahead of Monte-Carlo

09/04/2024 at 09:05

Join 3M+ users on app

Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports

Download

Scan me