Medvedev wins Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
The third seed produced an impressive performance to extend his winning streak to 14 matches
Daniil Medvedev registered an ATP Tour hat-trick Saturday when he defeated Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-2 to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The third seed, who ended Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten start to the season in the semi-finals, produced an impressive performance to extend his winning streak to 14 matches.
After winning the titles in Rotterdam and Doha in February, Medvedev is the third player to win three trophies in as many weeks since 2021, joining 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 said. "I was really happy with these three weeks and I am looking forward to the next ones."
After the win, Medvedev is now placed at sixth position in the ATP Live Rankings, rising above Rublev, who drops to number seven.
"It was very tactical [match]," Medvedev said. "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 next compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he will be looking to continue his winning run. The former World No. 1 is six victories from equalling his career-best winning streak on the ATP Tour, having earned 20 consecutive victories from November 2020 to January 2021,” ATP said in a press release.
“Medvedev entered the final having not dropped a set all week and he played with confidence against Rublev to frustrate the second seed. The 27-year-old committed just two unforced errors in the first set as he sat deep behind the baseline to soak up Rublev’s aggressive hitting.
“After clinching the opener, Medvedev continued to find the perfect balance between defence and attack. He turned the tables in the baseline exchanges with his precise crosscourt forehand, breaking twice in the second set to seal his victory.
“The 2022 champion Rublev was aiming to become the third repeat titlist at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, alongside Djokovic and Roger Federer.”
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