After Rotterdam, also Doha. Daniil Medvedev takes note of Andy Murray in the list of victims of the week in Qatar and wins the 17th title of his career. The final 6-4 6-4 does not say enough about the good performance of the British tennis player.
After ten hours and seven minutes on the track, among other things. ‘Sir Andy’ was about to come back from two breaks down in the initial fraction and even took a 4-3 lead in the second. Some recriminations for the Brit, who at 4-4 blew a 40-0 lead and basically surrendered to the Russian.
The success allows Medvedev to gain another ranking spot and settle at number eight to the detriment of Rafa Nadal. The first game is a kind of manifesto. Medvedev immediately takes the 0-40 lead. He missed the first three break points, but then went on autopilot and with two incredibly physical solutions in the next two fifteen he took the lead and immediately reinforced his lead with a game to nil, finished off, needless to say, with two aces.
Murray tries to do something different. At least not to get caught up in the network of lengthy exchanges that the Russian player builds with incredible meticulousness. In the third game, ‘Sir Andy’ did not take advantage of two balls to return to the track -few recriminations, frankly-, but above all he dropped his serve on a second occasion and allowed Medvedev to escape.
Even if it was only apparently. Called to essentially shield the first set at 4-1, the Russian is distracted. Called on to hold a two-fifteen lead, he makes two rather gross mistakes, negates the third break point he makes available to Murray with a forehand volley, but on the fourth break point he gives the two-time tournament champion a breather with a double lack.
Murray, who usually takes the net route, has a chance to come back at 4-4. Medvedev, who calls for and gets the support of the first ball, gets out of trouble and secures the final serve without any special difficulty. Medvedev condenses most of the attention in the first game.
Medvedev won two titles in a row
Despite his title on the ATP 250 in Doha this Saturday, Daniil Medvedev, during his post-final press conference, pointed out the poor quality of the balls used during this week in Qatar.
Moreover, these are the same balls as during the Australian Open where several players, including Djokovic, Nadal and Murray, had already complained. “It’s really difficult to go from playing indoors to competing outdoors with the conditions in Doha.
The fact that I got there clearly shows how important confidence is to me, as I didn’t feel comfortable for much of the week. We played with the same balls as at the Australian Open and I had a terrible feeling with them in Melbourne.
Also, I injured my wrist before the game against Korda. I thought it was my problem, but I’ve talked to other players and I see there are more and more elbow, wrist or shoulder injuries, so I think the balls are responsible for it.”
