Serve and Nerve Decided Final

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 4, 2024

In a final devoid of a single service break, Jannik Sinner made his biggest breakthrough.  

Winless in six prior meetings vs. Daniil Medvedev, Sinner played with poise and purpose in both breakers beating Medvedev 7-6(2), 7-6(2) in today’s Beijing final to capture his third title of the season. 

More: Djokovic Captures 24th Grand Slam Title

In a rematch of the 2023 Miami Open final, which Medvedev won 7-5, 6-3, Sinner was more assertive in the tiebreakers. A day after Sinner became the first man to post four wins over top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, he posted his first win over the second-seeded Medvedev.

The 2021 US Open champion said a final of fine margins came down to Sinner holding his nerve and serve better in both tiebreakers.

“In a way luck that he managed to hold his emotion, control his emotions better in these tiebreaks, not make mistakes probably at all I guess,” Sinner said. “I made some easy ones. He served better in these tiebreaks. So he made all the shots and played better tennis.

“At the same time, as I say, coming after the match I’m, like, okay, if I want to improve, what do I have to do better? Well, serve better during the tiebreak, play better during the tiebreak, hit some better shots.”

Despite the defeat, Medvedev reached his eighth final in 18 tournaments this season.

The world No. 3 is 5-3 in finals this year, falling to Alcaraz in Indian Wells, to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the US Open and now his first loss to Sinner.

Though the fall season can hammer players already feeling fatigue from nearly 10 months on Tour, Medvedev said he’s playing well and eager to keep rolling.

“I think everyone is a little bit tired,” Medvedev said. “It’s the end of the season. I myself know that when I’m in this kind of shape, like playing finals, playing good, better not to lose it…

“I’m in good shape now. Even again today, the match was good, was good tennis. Had to do better if I wanted to win, but it was good tennis. I want to continue playing good this season. It’s not over. A lot of points to try to gain. Going to Shanghai to show my best and hopefully I can do it.”

Photo credit: Matthew Calvis