Mueez Ajao
– Daniil Medvedev handed Novak Djokovic his first defeat of the season in the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
– Djokovic went into the clash on a 20-match winning streak taking in the ATP Finals at the end of last season then titles in Adelaide and at the Australian Open in January.
– But this time it was another man in form, third seed Medvedev, who proved too strong, pulling off a 6-4, 6-4 victory as he chases a third successive title. Djokovic lost four games in a row from 2-1 up in the opening set, making too many errors as he tried to finish rallies early.
That was something special 💫
Medvedev heads to the finals, taking Djokovic out in straight sets 6-4, 6-4… @ddftennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/Hdey2Qx82L
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 3, 2023
Also Read: Djokovic reclaims top spot after Australian Open title
– The world No 1 put pressure on Medvedev but the former US Open champion withstood it, and one break of serve at the start of the decider was ultimately just enough.
– It was the Russian, who will take on countryman Andrey Rublev in the final, who largely came out on top in a series of entertaining exchanges, and he said in an on-court interview broadcast by Prime Video: “When you play against Novak you just have to play your best, kind of hope that he doesn’t play his best.
– “I’m happy that I managed to play a higher level than him today. In the second set I didn’t face one break point but there were so many 30-30, deuce (games). I managed to keep composed and I’m really happy to be in the final tomorrow.”
– Defending champion Rublev survived a dramatic second-set tie-break to defeat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (9) in the first semi-final. It was at the same stage a year ago that Rublev earned praise for writing ‘No war please’ on the camera lens in reference to events in Ukraine.
– Asked again about the situation, the 25-year-old said: “You cannot act like nothing is happening because it’s horrible. It’s crazy that so many just normal citizens are suffering, dying. It’s just not easy.
– “The only thing I hope that soon there is going to be peace in every country. It doesn’t matter where. I hope there is going to be peace in our countries. I hope there is going to be peace in other countries where there is happening the wars now.
– “It’s horrible in our time, this generation, there can happen those things.”
– Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool reached the doubles final with Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara, the pair defeating top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic 6-4, 6-2.
