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Daniil Medvedev beat the dice with a big defense to serve top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic at the Western & Southern Open on Saturday. The Russian reached his second ATP Masters 1000 final in as many weeks in Cincinnati.
Medvedev made a furious comeback to qualify after Djokovic's 6 – 3, 3-2 30/40. He refused the critical breakpoint and reversed the script in a flash, winning it by 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes. It was the first time that Djokovic lost a semifinal at the ATP Masters 1000 level by winning the first set since 2013 (against Del Potro at Indian Wells).
The world No. 8 reversed the course in a breathtaking manner in the second and third sets, varying his pace and angles of service and refusing to allow Djokovic to establish the least pace. He left the Serb looking for answers and often managed to hurry to serve successfully. His 16 aces are the most points scored by Djokovic in a three-set match this year.
"To be honest, I do not know how I did it," Medvedev told Brad Gilbert of ESPN. "I was so tired in the first set and playing Novak, I thought I could not keep the intensity.Then the only change of moment in the second set was the difference. I gave so much energy.
"I usually get bigger on my second serve when it does not work and Novak destroys me in the first set, and at one point I thought why I should do a second, normal service if I lose the point. I started to earn a lot more after that. "
A ? CLOSE!
✅ Washington final
✅ Montreal final
✅ Cincinnati Finale
❓ #CincyTennis ??: @TennisTV | @CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/h4pz2TDHQC
– ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) August 18, 2019
Medvedev reached his third consecutive final at the circuit after his championship appearances at the Citi Open in Washington (Kyrgios) and the Rogers Cup in Montreal (Nadal). He will face David Goffin on Sunday at his third FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. All matches were held in 2019, with Medvedev winning at the Australian Open and Goffin taking his revenge on a five-set thriller at Wimbledon.
"I need to win (smile)," Medvedev said. "No, in fact, my mentality is always that I consider each match as identical, in the first round, because I always say that if you lose in the first round, you will not be in the final, so why take it differently?"
"Talking about the final against Rafa, it was a tough one, I would actually say I have no regrets – I mean, if it would be 7-6 in the third, then I would be sitting here, by saying my chances, I had no chance.
"Against Nick, I had my chances, I did not use them, I'll go tomorrow and be ready to fight, be consistent and hopefully I can be the winner."
The Russian is well positioned to participate in the Nitto ATP finals in London, adding a win for the 43rd match this year. He also won 30 hard court victories – 10 more than Roberto Bautista Agut and Stefanos Tsitsipas, both in second place.
Djokovic was at his best in the first set, having made only three unforced errors and converting eight of the nine points to the net. He took the decisive point of the opener and used his forehand to open the field and placed Medvedev in defense.
Medvedev, who played his 17th match in 19 days, would receive the visit of the physio (right arm) in the middle of the second set. Despite considerable suffering, it would prove exactly what he needed to return the script. He lost 12 of the following 14 points to get Djokovic out of nowhere and force a decision maker. He hit 14 winners and only four unforced errors in the set.
It was at this point that Medvedev decided to change tactics during his second service. This has turned out to be a critical decision. Becoming bigger with his game and varying his playing pace, the 23-year-old has fought back. His average second-serve speed increased 11 mph in the second and third sets.
After appearing as if Djokovic would run away with the match, they suddenly headed to a decision maker in front of a packed crowd at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The Serbian saw his run of 37 consecutive victories in the service series, after he broke to open the tournament, to end.
Medvedev kept his foot on the pedal at the beginning of the third set. He deserved a 2-1 break and did not return. The Russian reached the finish line with a perfect pass for his first match point.
It was his second victory over Djokovic this year, after a 6-3, 4-6, and 6-2 victory at the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters. The Serbs still lead their FedEx ATP Head2Head by a score of 3-2.
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David's dream: Goffin enters the first Masters 1000 final
Djokovic has been denied a 50th final appearance in the ATP Masters 1000. He wanted to join Rafael Nadal (51) and Roger Federer (50) in the exclusive club. A year ago, the Serbian completed the complete Masters 1000 series with his first crown in Cincinnati.
Did you know?
Medvedev is the first Russian to reach the final of the 120th Western & Southern Open.
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