Daniil Medvedev is a clay courtroom Masters 1000 champion for the primary time after defeating Holger Rune 7-5 7-5 in Sunday’s Italian Open remaining.
In every week affected by rain showers, it was solely becoming that the ultimate was delayed by over an hour, however when play commenced, it was the Russian who produced the cleaner tennis, breaking decisively on the enterprise finish of set one and twice recovering from a break down within the second set to land his first ever clay courtroom title and sixth Masters 1000 crown.
Italian Open 2023 Last Outcome
Winner
Loser
Scoreline
Daniil Medvedev (3)
Holger Rune (7)
7-5 7-5
Match Stats
Holger Rune
Daniil Medvedev
Aces
2
5
Double Faults
1
4
First Serve
33/68 (49%)
42/65 (65%)
1st Serve Factors Received
17/33 (52%)
32/42 (76%)
2nd Serve Factors Received
22/35 (63%)
10/23 (43%)
Break Factors Saved
2/6 (33%)
3/5 (60%)
Service Video games Performed
12
12
1st Serve Return Factors Received
10/42 (24%)
16/33 (48%)
2nd Serve Return Factors Received
13/23 (57%)
13/35 (37%)
Break Factors Transformed
2/5 (40%)
4/6 (67%)
Return Video games Performed
12
12
Internet Factors Received
17/32 (53%)
15/22 (68%)
Winners
20
21
Unforced Errors
9
9
Service Factors Received
39/68 (57%)
42/65 (65%)
Return Factors Received
23/65 (35%)
29/68 (43%)
Complete Factors Received
62/133 (47%)
71/133 (53%)
Highlights
Trophy Presentation
Ideas on the Match
Medvedev had performed among the finest clay courtroom tennis I’ve ever seen from him over the past ten days or so in Rome, and his sport appeared to click on with higher motion and that means to defend from the corners and steal factors he has no enterprise profitable.
That continued within the remaining as Medvedev soaked up Rune’s groundstrokes and outlasted him from the baseline all through. He refused to overlook, particularly within the second set, the place he twice recovered a break of serve.
It was a troublesome match, I believe we had been each a bit nervous at the beginning, and I believe we had been each lacking our fundamentals. We had been lacking some straightforward pictures, so I’m comfortable I managed to step it up on the finish of the primary set. However then, at the beginning of the second set, he stepped it up right away, and I used to be like, ‘OK, that is the second I’ve to start out enjoying higher and go to his stage’. Then it was a prime match from this stage. Medvedev on his remaining win over Rune.
Medvedev’s means to get to the ball when being run backward and forward however nonetheless put one thing on it’s Djokovic-esque, and even from defensive positions, the Russian can at all times give you one thing to flip the momentum of the purpose completely with only one swing of the racket.
Whereas most defensive-type baseliners need to work extra time for ALL of their factors, Medvedev additionally has a extremely efficient serve, so he can at all times reel off some factors shortly to alleviate stress or save vitality for his return video games.
Alongside these attributes that serve him properly on all surfaces, Medvedev has additionally clearly put within the onerous yards on clay this season.
Whereas he may not just like the floor and he may simply put his focus elsewhere or skip it completely like Kyrgios, I’ve seen numerous movies of him practising at Mouratogalou’s academy, and he and his coach have devoted themselves to understanding the nuances of the floor, adjusting his footwork, and fine-tuning his pictures to go well with the distinctive calls for of clay courtroom tennis.
His means to adapt tactically and mentally can also be price mentioning. As an alternative of being discouraged by earlier disappointments on clay, he approached every event with a recent perspective, and he’s an analytical sort of one that thinks about his opponents’ weaknesses and neutralise the floor’s challenges quite than simply attempting to blast the ball as onerous as he can on each single shot.
I at all times need to consider in myself, and I at all times need to win the most important tournaments on the planet. However on the identical time, I didn’t assume I may win a Masters 1000 on clay in my profession as a result of I often hated it and enjoying on it. I didn’t be ok with it, and nothing was working. Earlier than this event in Madrid and Monte-Carlo, I wasn’t feeling too dangerous. I assumed, ‘OK, let’s proceed’. Then after I got here right here, I felt so good in apply, and I advised my coach, ‘I don’t know what is occurring, however I’m feeling superb, so let’s see the way it goes’. However then you need to play the hardest opponents on the planet to attempt to make it. I’m actually comfortable I managed to do it and show to myself and everybody else that I can do it. Medvedev talks about discovering success on clay.
So regardless of overtly admitting his lack of affinity for clay courts, Medvedev has showcased a formidable show of dedication, adaptability, and ability, finally resulting in his well-deserved victory in Rome.
With it, he’s now quantity within the ATP Reside Race To Turin rankings and is as much as No. 2 within the ATP Rankings after incomes his thirty ninth win of the season, which incorporates titles in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami and now Rome.
What did you guys consider the ultimate? Let me know within the feedback.
