It is a tale of two very different finalists in the last match at the National Bank Open on Sunday afternoon. One is the top seed and human backboard who can play baseline rally after baseline rally without making an unforced error. The other is unseeded and one of the biggest servers on tour.
It’s Daniil Medvedev vs. Reilly Opelka for the Toronto Masters title.
Somewhat surprisingly given Opelka’s youth (23 years old) and relative lack of going deep in tournaments, they have already faced each other four times. Medvedev leads the head-to-head series 3-1, including 2-0 on outdoor hard courts. Their most recent meeting came at this season’s French Open, where the Russian rolled 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Opelka scored his lone victory via a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 decision at the 2020 indoor event in St. Petersburg.
This is the 6’11” American’s third ATP final and by far the biggest of his career. His previous appearances–both wins–came at the 250 level (New York 2019 and Delray Beach 2020). Opelka played his way into a second Masters 1000 semi by beating Nick Kyrgios, Grigor Dimitrov, Lloyd Harris, and Roberto Bautista Agut before upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 6-4 on Saturday.
Medvedev has taken out Alexander Bublik, James Duckworth, Hubert Hurkacz, and John Isner while dropping sets to Bublik and Hurkacz in the process. The world No. 2 outlasted Hurkacz 2-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in the match of the tournament and then crushed a hobbled John Isner 6-2, 6-2.
Even though Isner was less than 100 percent, that is still perfect preparation for a match against Opelka. Medvedev is playing great and obviously has a ton of experience having compiled a 3-1 record in four previous Masters 1000 finals.
It won’t be a walk in the park facing Opelka’s serve, but this sets up nicely for Medvedev.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
WWW?
Thank goodness Medevedev has saved us from an Isner v Opelka final!
Read there was something up with Isner tho., so not sure that result is indicative of the outcome of this.
But, being an optimist, Med in 3.
The Med v Hurkacz match was amazing they were so well matched
I didn’t see the Isner match but did think Opelka would beat Tsitsi and glad he did
never thought Opelka would beat Tsi, but He won’t beat Med….
med in 2.
Watched Medvedev demolish Opelka. His ROS was amazing, gave Opelka the heebie jeebies so his serve stopped being so effective. As for Med’s defensive skills, just WOW!