What offseason? Eight players already battling in Saudi Arabia exhibition

Welp. So much for the “offseason.”

It’s not technically part of the 2020 campaign, but tennis is already back in action with the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia this week–just a couple of weeks following the 2019 Davis Cup Finals. Preparations for the upcoming year are underway for Daniil Medvedev, Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini, David Goffin, John Isner, Stan Wawrinka, Lucas Pouille, Jan-Lennard Struff, and Michael Mmoh.

Quarterfinal matches at this eight-man exhibition event took place on Thursday, when Medvedev, Fognini, Monfils, and Goffin advanced. Medvedev struggled at the end of this past season due mostly to understandable fatigue, but he was the dominant player that we saw throughout the summer when he took the court against Struff. The 23-year-old rolled over the big-hitting German 6-3, 6-1.

“It was a great match,” Medvedev assured. “It is never easy to play during the preseason and to know how you are playing. Today it was really good to beat Jan because he is one of the best players. It was a bit windy so it was a bit different for both players, I really like the surface here…. My goal is to win every match I have, because I hate to lose.”

Monfils also did not come close to losing, as he cruised past Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3.

“The beginning was a bit tough, but then I had the fire back and enjoyed the game,” the Frenchman said. “It was great tennis from my side and I had a really good time on the court. To be honest I am still in 2019, so I don’t think about it. But my goal is very clear: I want to get in shape and I really want to be Top 5. I want to play tough again.“

“It was a tough battle, but for my first match it was good,” Wawrinka noted. “I already lost to him this year in Rotterdam; I started well, but he played better than me. It was a bit windy, so a bit difficult for both players to play on a great level. Gael is a very good friend on tour, so it is always nice to share the court with him. So we really enjoyed it today. I think the support was good and I am really happy playing here…. The court is great; it is nice to play on. And here (there) are amazing facilities.”

Fognini joined Medvedev and Monfils in the semifinals by beating Isner 7-6(4), 6-4, while Goffin took care of Pouille 6-2, 6-4. Pouille then withdrew from the tournament because of injury and was replaced by Saudi-born Michael Mmoh, who lost to Struff in a consolation contest on Friday. Isner defeated Wawrinka in straight sets and will face Struff in the fifth-place match on Saturday.

In the winners’ bracket, Fognini maintained momentum with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Monfils. The Italian will go up against Medvedev in the title match after the Russian dominated Friday’s nightcap 6-3, 6-3 against Goffin. 

[crowdsignal poll=10460740]