Rublev beats Thiem, Medvedev destroys Djokovic to storm into ATP Finals semis
LONDON: US Open champion Dominic Thiem of Austria lost to Russia’s Andrey Rublev 6-2, 7-5 at the ATP Finals in a match on Thursday that had litle real consequence for either player as Thiem was assured of topping the group ater victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal and his Russian opponent unable to qualify for the semifinals ater backto-back defeats.
Earlier, the lights went out unexpectedly at the O2 Arena, causing the start of the match between Thiem and Rublev to be delayed.
The already-qualified Thiem was short of energy, too, when play eventually began.
“It was difficult to keep that amazing intensity like I had in the first two matches,” Thiem said.
“I wanted to win the match, 100%, but the first two matches were prety tough, prety long.
“So with the fact I was already qualified, in the back on my mind it was difficult to keep the intensity alive.”
Thiem said the loss to Rublev was “not painful at all.”
“I’m focused on Saturday now,” he said. Tsitsipas and Nadal were to meet later on Thursday to decide who advances along with Thiem.
Rublev played like someone with nothing to lose, overwhelming Thiem with his serve and fierce groundstrokes to take the Austrian’s first two service games and clinch the first set in less than 26 minutes. He dropped only three points on serve and had no unforced errors in that set.
The second set was much closer, though Rublev was on top and serving at 4-3 when he lost eight straight points to get back on serve.
Rublev regrouped, broke Thiem ater a long next game featuring some intense rallies, then served out the match for his first win in his debut at the season-ending tournament.
“It was not easy for Dommy,” said Rublev, who has won five events on the tour this year in a breakthrough season. “I think he (was) focused on the semis. I wish him good luck - he deserves to be where he is and he deserves to win the title.”
MEDVEDEV DOMINATES DJOKOVIC: Earlier, in a Wednesday late match, Daniil Medvedev secured a spot in the semifinals of the ATP Finals by dominating five-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 for his second straight win of the group stage.
Medvedev, who lost all three of his group matches last year on his tournament debut, has now beaten Djokovic in three of their last four meetings. The top-ranked Serb can still advance if he beats 2018 champion Alexander Zverev in a winner-takes-all match on Friday.
Zverev kept his tournament hopes alive with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Diego Schwartzman earlier Wednesday.
Medvedev broke Djokovic three straight times to go from 3-3 in the first set to a 3-0 lead in the second. The first break came ater a marathon game when the Russian finally converted his third break point when Djokovic missed a forehand ater a long rally.
Djokovic then double-faulted on set point and never looked likely to stage a comeback in the second. Medvedev saved the only break point he faced at 2-0 and then secured the victory with a forehand winner on his first match point.
“He was just beter, no question about it,” Djokovic said. ”Just not a great match from my side. I thought I could have and should have done beter, but credit to him for playing on a high level.”
Medvedev is looking a lot more comfortable at the O2 Arena than last year, when his three losses included a collapse against Rafael Nadal in a match where he led 5-1 in the third set.
“You always have doubts in your head, like maybe next year is going to be (like) last year in London, I’m going to go out there and be tight, again, I’m not going to show anything in the Masters finals,” Medvedev said. “Well, not the case. Finished No. 1 in the group already, which is great.”