After a one-year hiatus of their long-running Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev made up for misplaced time with six Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences in 2023. 4 of these matchups got here on the ATP Masters 1000 stage and the sixth got here on the Nitto ATP Finals, with Medvedev posting a 5-1 file to enhance to 11-7 within the total sequence.
On the finish of a resurgent 12 months for each stars, ATPTour.com appears again on their six conferences from 2023.
Indian Wells R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5
In an eventful matchup on the BNP Paribas Open, Medvedev survived a stern problem from Zverev and a twisted ankle suffered throughout a fall within the second set. He hit 40 winners in a gritty victory that prolonged his successful streak to 17 matches.
On the point of defeat and with a tape job on his proper ankle, Medvedev fought off 10 break factors within the second set, together with two escapes from 0/40. Early within the tie-break, he produced one of many pictures of the season with a superb defensive smash as he started to take management of the match. Whereas he missed out on a match level on serve at 5-4 within the closing set, Medvedev managed to shut out the victory by serving out the win on the second time of asking after a late break.
“Once I twisted [my ankle], I believed I used to be going to face up simply fantastic,” Medvedev stated of his dramatic fall. “However then the ache began rising very quick, so I used to be like ‘That isn’t a great signal.’ I felt like I did not break it however I felt that one of many ligaments was a bit of injured, so I believed I wasn’t going to have the ability to play.”
Monte-Carlo R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7)
For the second straight time in opposition to Zverev, Medvedev rallied from a set down to say a tense three-set win. If he was on the ropes in Indian Wells, he was down on the canvas on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the place Zverev twice served for the match and missed out on two match factors.
Medvedev denied the German’s makes an attempt to serve out the win at 5-4 in each the second and third units, then erased two match factors within the third-set tie-break.
“That was a loopy match,” Medvedev stated of the matchup, which featured a mixed 11 service breaks amidst peaks and valleys for each gamers.
“He served two instances for the match, he in all probability ought to have finished higher, however that can also be clay courts. I attempted to look at a number of tennis earlier than enjoying this match, and one factor that I noticed is you possibly can come again at any second. The serve doesn’t depend as a lot, in order quickly as somebody will get a bit of bit tight, the match can flip round in a single second. That’s what I managed to do.”
Rome R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-2, 7-6(3)
Medvedev entered the 2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia with an 0-3 file in Rome, however he strung collectively six wins on the ATP Masters 1000 to say his first clay-court title. After a three-set win within the second spherical, Medvedev kicked his marketing campaign into excessive gear with a straight-sets win in opposition to Zverev; he wouldn’t lose a set the remainder of the match.
Zverev struggled to interrupt down Medvedev’s defenses on the clay, even along with his huge serving, however the German recovered a break within the second set to drive a tie-break. Undeterred, Medvedev reasserted himself down the stretch by dominating the baseline exchanges to seal his quarter-final place.
[SWEEPSTAKES]
Cincinnati R16, Zverev d. Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
In one other three-set traditional between these two rivals, Zverev picked up his first win in opposition to Medvedev for the reason that 2021 Nitto ATP Finals title match. It was additionally Zverev’s first Prime 10 win of the season.
On the Western & Southern Open, Zverev higher dealt with the windy situations in the important thing moments to prevail, saving two break factors at 4-4 within the closing set earlier than breaking serve within the subsequent sport to wrap up the win in two hours, 34 minutes.
“It was very troublesome situations in opposition to a really troublesome opponent,” stated Zverev, who hit 36 winners within the victory. “He offers you nothing and it’s important to win the match your self and that’s what I did as we speak and I’m happy with that.
“I attempted to be affected person and also you simply must take your possibilities, your alternatives. You aren’t going to get many as a result of we had been each serving fairly properly. I misplaced three very tight matches [against Medvedev] earlier this 12 months, so I’m happy to have lastly gained one as we speak.”
Beijing SF, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-4, 6-3
Lower than two months after Cincinnati, Medvedev gained swift revenge on his rival with victory in a match of fine-margins on the China Open.
In a semi-final stuffed with lung-busting rallies, Medvedev secured a late break in every set to earn the win. Each breaks had been claimed in supreme fashion with a pair of clutch passing pictures, together with on set level within the opening set.
Zverev had his possibilities too, however Medvedev saved all 4 breaks factors he confronted — two in every set — with well timed huge serves.
Nitto ATP Finals RR, Medvedev d. Zverev 7-6(7), 6-4
On this battle of former Nitto ATP Finals champions, Medvedev defeated Zverev to safe his place within the Turin semi-finals. The matchup was the pair’s sixth of the 2023 season and their fifth on the Nitto ATP Finals, nearing Pete Sampras and Boris Becker’s file of seven matchups on the season finale.
Medvedev stormed out of the gates however Zverev was within the ascendancy late within the opening set along with his aggressive techniques. Together with his again in opposition to the wall, Medvedev saved two set factors in a tense opening tie-break and later fought off a break level late in set two earlier than breaking to finish the match.
“It was a really robust match mentally,” stated Medvedev, who gained 40 of 51 (78%) of his first-serve factors. “The tip of each units was very tight… Within the tie-break he had set level on his serve. I’m comfortable as a result of this 12 months I might need misplaced some matches like this. I’m comfortable to have the ability to win.”
#Rivalries #Medvedev #Zverev