ATP Finals | Alexander Zverev dethrones Daniil Medvedev

(Turin) If Alexander Zverev’s performance this weekend was any glimpse of it, a lot can be expected from the German in 2022.

Zverev, who ranks third in the world, defeated the top two players in consecutive games to claim his second title in the ATP Finals.

After knocking out No.1 Novak Djokovic in three rounds in the semifinals the day before, Zverev was dominant in Sunday’s final, defeating World No.2 Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-4.

US Open champion Medvedev won this tournament last year and had beaten Zverev in their previous encounters.

“There’s no better way to end the season than to win here,” said Zverev. I am already looking forward to next year. ”

The title crowns a whole year for Zverev, who also won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and finished 2021 with more circuit wins – 59, one more than Medvedev – than anyone.

What is most lacking in Zverev’s record now is a Grand Slam trophy, he who lost an epic final to Dominic Thiem at the US Open last year.

The final was a rematch of a rotation tournament match on Tuesday, when Medvedev defeated Zverev in the tiebreaker in the third set.

This time, Zverev took the lead early on, as the six-foot-six went with a powerful backhand in the corner, then took advantage of a winning shot at the net to secure the breakage in the third. game of the match.

Helped by the fast-paced indoor court conditions at the Pala Alpitour, Zverev was virtually untouchable on his serve, gaining 20 of 25 points with his serve in the first set.

Zverev again made the break in the opening play of the second set and he became so confident that he began to make daring winning shots on the fly as he occasionally went up to the net on his serve.

It was the first edition of this end-of-season tournament for the top eight players in Turin – after 12 years in London, where Zverev won his first title in 2018.

France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won the doubles title, beating Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 6-4, 7-6 (0).