World No 1’s ATP Finals progress hits a snag

LONDON: World No 1 Novak Djokovic had enough on his plate already yesterday without marauding Russian Daniil Medvedev pummelling him to a shock 63, 63 defeat at the ATP Finals.

Shortly after news broke that Djokovic had been nominated for a return to the ATP player council he had quit in August, he took to court at the O2 Arena hoping to seal his passage into the semifinals of the prestigious yearender.

Instead his progress out of the Tokyo Group looks tricky, even if not quite as complicated as the politics rumbling on in men's tennis since he announced in August he was forming a breakaway Professional Tennis Players' Association (PTPA).

Medvedev's sensational performance means he is guaranteed top spot in the group and Djokovic, bidding to match Roger Federer by winning the title for a recordequalling sixth time, must beat 2018 champion Alexander Zverev in his last roundrobin match tomorrow.

There was little sign of what was to come in a mesmerising opening to the match as Djokovic edged into a 32 lead.

But the 24yearold

Medvedev, his flat groundstrokes scorching through the court, found a gear that even indoor master Djokovic could not locate.

Pummelling his highvelocity groundstrokes deep into the corners, Medvedev had Djokovic burning rubber and went on a nearperfect

sevengame winning streak to leave his bemused opponent puffing out his cheeks.

By the time 17time Grand Slam champion Djokovic managed to stop the rot he was a set and 31 in arrears.

Medvedev was relentless and continued to boss the baseline rallies as he extended his lead to 52.

Djokovic held serve to at least ask the question of Medvedev's nerve but the Russian was ice cool as he closed out victory to make it two wins from two in the group, while handing Djokovic only his fourth defeat of 2020.

While Medvedev will go into his final group match against Diego Schwartzman with no stress, Djokovic faces a straight shootout with Zverev to avoid an early exit.

Earlier, Zverev beat Argentine debutant Schwartzman 63, 46, 63. — Reuters

PHOTO: REUTERS To the slaughter . . . Serbia's Novak Djokovic walks out before his group stage match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London yesterday. Djokovic lost 63, 63.