TURIN: Strong serving and consistent baseline play propelled US Open champion Daniil Medvedev to a 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 win over first-time qualifier Hubert Hurkacz in the opening match of the ATP Finals on Sunday.

Olympic champion Alexander Zverev was also awarded a win in his opening match after Italian Matteo Berretini pulled out injured with an apparent abdominal injury early in the second set with the German leading 7-6 (9-7), 1-0.

Russian Medvedev allowed his Polish opponent to take the early advantage in the season-ending event following a tight tiebreaker but responded in style. The 25-year-old fired 15 aces to Hurkacz’s 12 and converted two break points on a fast court to seal victory in the Red Group ahead of potentially tricky challenges against Germany’s Zverev and Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini.

Zverev was leading when Berrettini dropped his racket to the ground, covered his face and bent over in apparent pain.

“The atmosphere was one of the best I felt ever in my life and that’s why it feels so bad right now, Berrettini said. “The worst thing that could have happened, happened.”

Berrettini has not yet pulled out of the event. Should he decide to do so, then he would be replaced by another Italian in the shape of alternate, Jannik Sinner.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2021