The Ymer brothers propelled Sweden to a surprise berth in the Davis Cup quarterfinals, and now they are even bigger underdogs against Russia. Thursday’s festivities will pit Mikael against Daniil Medvedev and Elias against Andrey Rublev.
(RUS) Daniil Medvedev vs. (SWE) Mikael Ymer
Medvedev couldn’t quite win another Nitto ATP Finals title (lost to Alexander Zverev in the championship match), but he could end the season just as he started: with a title for Russia. The Russians won the ATP Cup back in January and they are the favorites to win the Davis Cup. Despite being in a tough round-robin group with Spain, Medvedev led his nation to a 2-0 record and a spot in the quarterfinals against Sweden on Thursday in Madrid. The world No. 2 erased Ecuador’s Emilio Gomez 6-0, 6-2 and then beat Spanish veteran Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 7-6(3).
Up next for Medvedev is a first-ever matchup with Elias Ymer. The 23-year-old finds himself inside the top 100 (94th) thanks in part to having won 18 main-tour matches in 2021. That includes a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Vasek Pospisil of Canada last Thursday, although Ymer lost to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 two days later. This is a nightmare matchup for the underdog, who does not have any weapons with which to hit through Medvedev’s defense and consistency.
Pick: Medvedev in 2 losing 5-7 games
(RUS) Andrey Rublev vs. (SWE) Elias Ymer
Rublev needs an offseason in the worst way–but he won’t get much of one having participated in the Nitto ATP Finals and now making a deep run in the Davis Cup Finals. The world No. 5 has once against played a ton of matches in 2021 (just like he did in 2020) and it is likely part of the reason why he has slumped throughout the second half of the season. Since Wimbledon, Rublev has lost his opening match at three events (including the Olympics) to go along with early losses in the U.S. Open, two Masters 1000s (Indian Wells and Paris), and the Nitto ATP Finals. Rublev needed three sets to get past Ecuadorian underdog Roberto Quiroz this past Saturday and then lost to 40-year-old Spaniard Feliciano Lopez on Sunday.
The good news for Rublev is that he is facing the much less accomplished Ymer brother on Thursday. Elias Ymer has never cracked the top 100 and he currently registers at No. 171 in the rankings. The 25-year-old did well to go 2-0 in round-robin, however, beating Steven Diez of Canada and Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan. Rublev obviously represents a massive step up in competition, and Ymer has never gone up against anyone in the top 5; he has never even defeated anyone in the top 40. There will be serious concerns on Rublev’s end if this isn’t a rout.
Pick: Rublev in 2 losing 7 games or fewer
Russia should roll
Ymer brothers have had an heroic Davis Cup, but Russia is the end of the line.