Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will be squaring off for the seventh time in their careers when they clash during round-robin competition at the Nitto ATP Finals on Wednesday night.
Djokovic is leading an entertaining head-to-head series by a 4-2 margin. Only one of their six previous encounters has ended in straight sets and the last three have all required final sets. They have faced each other once this season, when top-ranked Serb prevailed 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 at the ATP Cup to halt a two-match losing streak against Medvedev.
This marks their first-ever London matchup in Medvedev’s second appearance at the event. The fourth-ranked Russian went 0-3 in 2019, but he is far more rested for the 2020 year-end championship. That is the one benefit of not playing–and also not winning–as many matches as he did last season. However, Medvedev is starting to win plenty now. The 23-year-old is coming off a title at the Paris Masters and he began this week with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic eased past London debutant Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-2 on Monday. It was a much needed positive start for the 33-year-old, who got crushed by Rafael Nadal in the French Open and even by Lorenzo Sonego in the Vienna quarters.
Although Djokovic is clearly back in good form, he will have to do a lot more than beat Schwartzman in order to prove he is motivated for a fifth London title despite having already wrapped up the year-end No. 1 ranking. This should be one of the best matches of the week with a ton of wild rallies, and an upset by a rejuvenated Medvedev is certainly well within reason.
Pick: Medvedev in 3
WWW?
Ricky you have been picking against Nole all year!
Hard not to think you underestimate him when you pick against him at practically all the tournaments and usually don’t have him even making the final..
Medvedev in three… but Nole is still my pick to reach final.
Joker in 2
Again, we like to think about the big 3 before other players. On paper, Djocovid is a winner, but Medvedev can pull this off if he increases his pace.
Medvedev has the game to beat Djokovic here but can he outlast the Djokovic grind? And, what must happen here for an effective change of guard in 2021 … https://www.138mph.com/medvedev-djokovic-clash-atp-finals-london/
Zverev has been one of the best players on HC this year, and Medvedev easily beat him here 2-0.
Medvedev in 3.
Medvedev in mahadev mode
I was looking at live scores. From what I saw Nole didn’t have a single break point so that’s quite a beatdown.
Djoker has achieved what he could of his year’s ambitions. Another slam, finishing the year at #1. He’s won the WTF 5 times. I just don’t think it’s a Big Deal for him any more. He hasn’t won it since 2015, what does that tell you? He’ll gear up for AO, if there IS an AO next year. Not looking good at the moment but they’re working hard at it Down Under. In the meanwhile, may God have mercy on us all.
The tennis channel commentators said that Novak’s second serve was averaging about 85 mph. His second serve is usually at around 100 mph. I don’t know what’s up with him but that is not a good thing.
Maybe Thiem beating Rafa was a blessing in disguise for us Rafans 🙂
Weird system when getting beat is an advantage
it isn’t
After the earlier prediction of a straight set beat-down of Novak by Daniil, the Zverev versus Djokovic is tougher to call .. https://www.138mph.com/djokovic-must-beat-zverev-after-the-loss-to-medvedev/
Kavita please just go away..