Daniil Medvedev is yet to secure a place at the ATP Finals despite being world no. 1 at some points in 2022. The Russian stands fifth in the ATP Race, and his progress could be jeopardized by the latest injury in Astana. Daniil battled against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final and stood two points away from victory in the second set’s tie break.
Novak stayed composed and won the tie break 8-6 to prolong the battle and introduce a decider. As barely anyone noticed, Daniil injured his leg in the second point of the tie break and could not play the deciding set, retiring and propelling Novak into the title clash.
Medvedev felt a strange pop in his adductor and did not want to gamble by playing until the end, risking staying away from the court for half a year. Daniil won eight points more than Novak and hit 26 winners and 11 unforced errors.
The Russian saved two out of three break points and grabbed both break chances. Djokovic held at love in the encounter’s first game, and they both served well for 2-2. Daniil broke at love in game five when Novak pushed a backhand long before the Serb seized the second break point in the next one to level the score at 3-3.
Medvedev broke for the second time in a row in game seven and held in the next one for 5-3. Daniil held at 15 in game ten for 6-4 after 39 minutes.
Daniil Medvedev retired against Novak Djokovic in Astana.
Medvedev fended off a break point in the second set’s second game, and there was nothing for returners to work with ahead of the tie break.
Novak opened a 5-3 gap before Daniil leveled the score at 5-5 with a backhand crosscourt winner. Medvedev saved a set point at 5-6, and Djokovic earned the second with a smash winner in the 13th point. The Serb seized it to introduce the decider before the Russian retired to push Novak over the top.
“It’s the second time in my life I retired like this with a pulled muscle. I felt a strange pop in my adductor in the tie break’s second point. I thought it was a cramp, but that was not the case. I felt I could play five or ten more points after the tie break, but not more than that. Had I continued, I could have risked staying away from the court for half a year,” Daniil Medvedev said.
