Daniil Medvedev accomplished an ATP Tour hat-trick Saturday when he overcame Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-2 to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The third seed, who ended Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten begin to the season within the semi-finals, produced a constant efficiency all through the 68-minute conflict to increase his successful streak to 14 matches. Having lifted trophies in Rotterdam and Doha in February, Medvedev is the third participant to win three titles in as many weeks since 2021, becoming a member of Casper Ruud (July 2021) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (October 2022).
“It is amazing because at the start of the year, it was not perfect. In tennis when you don’t win matches you have doubts. Now it just feels better,” Medvedev mentioned. “I was really happy with these three weeks and I am looking forward to the next ones.”
The 27-year-old’s robust hard-court type has lifted him to No. 6 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, rising above Rublev, who drops to No. 7. With his Tour-leading nineteenth win of the season, Medvedev improved to 5-2 in his ATP Head2Headvert sequence in opposition to the 25-year-old Rublev.
“It was very tactical [match],” Medvedev mentioned. “I know Andrey can cause a lot of trouble to everyone on Tour. Every time we play he tries to make me suffer, I try to make him suffer. Today I managed to be on top, but the next match could be a different story.”
Following his 18th tour-level title, Medvedev will subsequent compete on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the place he will probably be trying to proceed his successful run. The former World No. 1 is six victories from equalling his career-best successful streak on the ATP Tour, having earned 20 consecutive victories from November 2020 to January 2021.
Medvedev entered the ultimate having not dropped a set all week and he performed with confidence in opposition to Rublev to frustrate the second seed. The 27-year-old dedicated simply two unforced errors within the first set as he sat deep behind the baseline to take in Rublev’s aggressive hitting.
After clinching the opener, Medvedev continued to seek out the right steadiness between defence and assault. He turned the tables within the baseline exchanges together with his exact crosscourt forehand, breaking twice within the second set to seal his victory.
The 2022 champion Rublev was aiming to grow to be the third repeat titlist on the ATP 500 occasion in Dubai, alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
