ATP
Medvedev crushes Carlos to face final with Djoko
Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic will re-run the 2021 US Open final after both motored through semi-final tests in straight sets on Friday.
Medvedev, the holder from three years ago who thrashed Djokovic in that final, booked his return as he stunned holder Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three and a quarter-hours on a fourth match point.
Djokovic took American newcomer Ben Shelton to the woodshed on Arthur Ashe with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) scoreline.
The match featured some sledging, with Djokovic giving a drive-by post-match handshake and mimicking the youngster’s “telephone hang up” victory pantomime.
Alcaraz was caught off guard by world No. 3 Medvedev, who had come through the draw without too much notice and now faces his third final at Flushing Meadows in five years.
Trailing two sets to love, the Spaniard managed to win the third, but was blown away in the end as Medvedev came through on his fourth chance point to end a tension-packed fourth set.
“It’s amazing, especially beating Carlos,” the winner said. “I lost easy to him twice this year.
“I had a lot of doubts before the match, wondering if I could impose my game.
“I’m really happy to be here on Sunday (for the final). I needed to play level 12 out of 10. To beat him, you have to play better than yourself.”
Medvedev voiced a mild complaint about what he said were Spanish fans yelling out between first and second serve.
“There were some crazy points. But those guys must have been desperate… now they can go to sleep knowing it didn’t help at all.”
Alcaraz had been hoping to become the first to defend a title here since Roger Federer in 2008.The 20-year-old Spaniard stood 24-1 over his last four majors but suffered his second loss in that series at the hand of an inspired Medvedev.
Medvedev won his fifth Grand Slam semi in seven played as he denied Alcaraz a second major title this season after the youngster won Wimbledon over Djokovic.
Medvedev won the 2021 title and played the final two years earlier here.
In the first semi, Djokovic had to fight his way to the finish against Shelton after cruising through the first two sets and going up a break in the third.
The American fought back briefly as he trailed, with Djokovic finally squeezing through a tiebreaker to advance.
“It was great to be able to win in straight sets,” the 23-time Grand Slam winner said. “Everything was working really well and in my favor, two sets to love up and 4-2.
“Then things started to change. He had set point. I was serving for the match, lost a break. Maybe I lost a little bit of a rhythm. there.”
He added: “The match was quite close, the crowd was gettinginvolved.
“It wasn’t easy to close it out. I didn;t want to go to a fourth set that’s for sure.
“He’s got a lot of firepower, with an amazing pop on the serve. He’s so dynamic and very unpredictable what comes next.
“I just had to stay there mentally, present, calm, and focus on the game plan and what I need to do and try to be solid from baseline.
Djokovic at 36 is the oldest to play an Open semi since Jimmy Connors – aged 39 – in 1991.
The winner is into a 10th final here and has figured in all four finals at the majors this season, with titles in Melbourne and Paris and a Wimbledon final against Alcaraz.
Shelton was the first unseeded semi-finalist here since Grigor Dimitrov four years ago.
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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