Danill Medvedev joins Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz in Turin

Today at 06:54 AM

World no. 5 Daniil Medvedev will compete at the ATP Finals for the sixth straight year. The 2020 champion joined Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in Turin, embracing another consistent season and wishing for more at the final events of the year.

Daniil's solid start to the season

The Russian is 45-18 this year, reaching two notable title matches but still seeking the first trophy of the season. Medvedev started the year with his sixth Major final at the Australian Open. For the second time within three years, Daniil forged two sets to love advantage against Jannik Sinner before falling 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in three hours and 45 minutes, suffering his fifth loss in the Major finals. The more experienced rival made a reliable start before the young gun launched his comeback, winning one point more and prevailing in the pivotal moments. The Italian landed 50 winners and 49 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and taking charge from the third set. He clinched four breaks and lost serve as many times. However, Sinner faced only one break point in 15 service games from the third set, keeping the pressure on the other side and mounting an incredible comeback.

The Russian lost in the semi-final in Dubai and reached the second and last notable final of the season in Indian Wells. Medvedev faced Carlos Alcaraz and fell 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 42 minutes. It was a re-run of their last year's final, and the young gun emerged victorious, prevailing in a tight opener and leaving the rival behind in set number two. The Spaniard played against two break points, overcoming an early deficit and pressuring his rival. He erased the deficit, grabbed a tie break and sealed the deal with a fine performance in the second set. Alcaraz hit more service winners and landed 24 winners and 26 unforced mistakes, besting Medvedev's 11-23 ratio. Daniil reached the Miami Masters semi-final but stood no chance against Jannik Sinner, suffering a 6-1, 6-2 loss in 69 minutes. The Italian defended all three break points and stood strong on the return, providing four breaks from nine opportunities and sailing over the top.

Clay swing, Wimbledon semi-final and early exits

Medvedev competed at all four notable clay events, scoring nine victories and reaching the Madrid Masters quarter-final. Daniil embraced his third duel of the season against Jannik in the Wimbledon quarter-final, fending off a set point in the third set and prevailing in a five-setter against the rival who struggled physically. Medvedev faced Alcaraz in the semi-final and experienced a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 loss in two hours and 55 minutes. The Russian earned three break points and converted them. However, he lost 38% of the points in his games and suffered six breaks from 15 chances offered to his rival, losing the edge after the opener and ending his campaign in the last four. Daniil fell to Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Olympic Games in Paris and could not make a successful transition to his beloved hard, suffering early defeats in Canada and Cincinnati.

US Open, Beijing and Shanghai

Medvedev played better at the US Open, ousting four rivals and reaching the quarter-final. Sinner bested him in four sets, delivering five breaks and defending six of eight break chances. Daniil lost both matches at the Laver Cup before reaching the semi-final in Beijing. He faced Alcaraz and fell 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 27 minutes, fighting hard in the opener but suffering another loss to the young gun. The Spaniard clinched three breaks in the opener, prevailing with the last and sealing the deal with a couple of return games on his tally in set number two. Carlos lost an early advantage in both sets two times but stayed focused, taking almost half of the return points and turning them into five breaks. Medvedev landed four service winners more than his opponent but struggled from the baseline, failing to match Alcaraz's 25-14 ratio.

The Russian reached the quarter-final in Shanghai and battled against one of his nemesis again. This time, he fell to Sinner 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes, struggling with a shoulder injury and ending his campaign despite a solid resistance in the second set. Jannik gave away 12 points in nine service games, fending off the only break point and keeping the pressure on the other side. Medvedev stood powerless behind the second serve, taking six of 27 points and losing serve three times from four break points given to world no. 1. The Italian hit 27 winners and ten unforced errors, welcoming 19 mistakes from his rival and outplaying him in the shortest and more advanced rallies. They battled again a couple of days later at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh. Jannik earned a dominant 6-0, 6-3 victory in 70 minutes for a place in the semi-final. Daniil played against 18 break points, defending 13 but finding himself on the losing side after dropping serve five times. The Italian denied all five break points, controlling the pace and sailing over the top. Medvedev withdrew from Vienna and will return to action in Paris.