(Turin) It is not because the match was of no particular significance that Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev were not going to offer a high spectacle to the spectators present at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Friday, within the framework of the group stage ATP Finals. Far from there.
Djokovic finally took the measure of Medvedev 6-3, 6-7 (5) and 7-6 (2) after a duel of three hours and 10 minutes in this prestigious tournament bringing together the eight best tennis players in the world.
The Serbian, ranked eighth in the world, is now 8-4 in career against Medvedev, ranked fifth in the world.
Despite the quality of the show, this match had no impact on the classification of the Red group. Djokovic, with a 3-0 record, was already guaranteed to advance to the semi-finals, while Medvedev, at 0-3, was certain to return home when the group stage concluded.
PHOTO MARCO BERTORELLO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Daniel Medvedev
Djokovic will now face American Taylor Fritz, who earned his spot in the semifinals after defeating Quebecer Félix Auger-Aliassime 7-6(4), 6-7(5) and 6-2 the day before.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas (1-1) will meet Russia’s Andrey Rublev (1-1) later today, and this match will put the last available bye into the next round at stake. The winner of this duel will then have an appointment with the Norwegian Casper Ruud, winner of the Green group.
The German Alexander Zverev, absent from the ATP Finals this season, is the defending champion of the event.