Russia’s Daniil Medvedev greeted fans following his victory in the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship semi-final match in Dubai. Medvedev showcased a return to his best form by ending Novak Djokovic’s undefeated start to the season, achieving a 6-4, 6-4 win over the world number one on Friday. After briefly dropping out of the top 10 for the first time since July 2019, Medvedev has made a remarkable comeback, winning his last 13 matches over an 18-day period. This impressive run has set up an all-Russian final in Dubai against defending champion Andrey Rublev.
Entering the match, Medvedev had lost his last four encounters with Djokovic, who was on a 20-match winning streak dating back to the previous year’s ATP Finals. The 27-year-old is now aiming to secure his third title in as many weeks, having already claimed trophies in Rotterdam and Doha prior to Dubai. Medvedev expressed his excitement, stating, “Every time I beat Novak is an amazing feeling. He’s probably the greatest tennis player of all time. Every time it gives you an extra boost of confidence, like, ‘Wow, I was able to beat Novak, I can for sure beat anybody.’”
Djokovic, on the other hand, acknowledged his 14 unforced errors—twice as many as Medvedev’s—and noted that he leaves Dubai with many positives, feeling physically strong after recovering from a left hamstring tear. However, his participation in the upcoming Indian Wells tournament, starting on March 8, remains uncertain as he awaits news regarding a visa waiver to the United States, given his unvaccinated status against coronavirus. “I’m still waiting for the news from America,” Djokovic said. “If there’s no America, I guess I’ll play clay. Monte Carlo is probably the next tournament. If that’s the case, I’ll take some time off, I’ll prepare.” He will learn about his chances of competing in the U.S. on Monday when the draw for the Indian Wells event is announced.
In front of a packed crowd in Dubai, Medvedev quickly established a double-break lead. Although Djokovic managed to break back, Medvedev successfully served out the first set on his second attempt after 39 minutes. Djokovic struggled with his forehand, which allowed Medvedev to secure an early break in the second set. Medvedev maintained his lead and earned his first match point with a drop shot that thrilled the audience. He capitalized on his first opportunity to secure his place in the final, holding a 4-2 advantage in their head-to-head record against Rublev heading into their Saturday showdown.
Rublev, the second seed, is attempting to defend one of his 12 career titles for the first time. He reached the championship match by achieving his first victory in six tour-level meetings with Alexander Zverev. Benefiting from 39 unforced errors from Zverev, Rublev needed six match points to defeat the former US Open finalist 6-3, 7-6 (11/9) in just under two hours. The match began with both players trading breaks before Rublev consolidated his lead at 4-2 and closed out the first set with a powerful forehand winner in 47 minutes. This marked the first set Rublev had ever won against Zverev at the tour level, having previously been 0-11 in sets against him.
The second set saw no breaks of serve, with Zverev saving a match point in the 12th game and responding with back-to-back aces to force a tiebreak. Although the seventh seed saved five more match points during the tiebreak, Rublev ultimately converted his sixth to reach his second consecutive Dubai final. “I’m happy that I was stable today mentally, especially on the tiebreak that I was able to be there, to play well,” Rublev remarked.
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