(Turin) The Russian Daniil Medvedev (world No.2), defending champion, defeated the Polish Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday in Turin, during the match opening of the ATP Finals, which are taking place for the first time in Italy.
This success allows him to temporarily take the head of the red group, before the evening duel between the Tokyo Olympic champion Alexander Zverev (world No. 3) and the Wimbledon finalist in July Matteo Berrettini (No. 7).
Dominated in the tiebreaker in the first set, Medvedev, 25, was able to recover perfectly in the second set, taking advantage of a break made at 1-0.
The scenario repeated itself at the start of the final round, with a more aggressive Medvedev on the return, as evidenced by his 31 winning strokes.
At the end of the 17e Direct fault of the Pole (N.9), Medvedev sealed the match in 2 h 01 min of the game and launched perfectly in his quest for the double, a year after winning the ATP Finals in London.
PHOTO MARCO BERTORELLO, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Hubert Hurkacz
In 2020, the Russian won in the final against the Austrian Dominic Thiem.
Winner of his first major title at the US Open in September, the Russian also won the Masters 1000 in Toronto, Marseille and Mallorca (ATP 250) this year.
After 12 years in London, the ATP Finals, which bring together the eight best players of the season, relocated to Turin until 2025.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic will play his first match on Monday against Norwegian Casper Ruud.