Rafael Nadal Makes an Epic Comeback Against Daniil Medvedev at ATP World Tour Finals 2019

Rafael Nadal saves a match point to defeat Daniil Medvedev 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 in one of the most thrilling matches of the ATP World Tour Finals 2019. In a rematch of the US Open 2019 finals, Medvedev fails to avenge his defeat as Nadal keeps his ATP Finals hopes alive.

Set one

Rafael Nadal held a confident opening service game with two big serves and perfect serve and volley as he set his plans clear. Daniil Medvedev did not have the most encouraging start but he served well to hold his first service game.

Rafael Nadal troubled Medvedev’s serve in the fourth game as he got a lead of 30-15 lead but the Russian moved up 40-30 before Nadal pegged a point involving 30 shots of high quality in one of the longest rallies of the week. However, in the best possible response, Medvedev hit two big first serves to hold a crucial serve.

Rally of the week!!!

In the seventh game, Rafael Nadal put himself under pressure with two forehand unforced errors and a double fault to gift a breakpoint to Daniil Medvedev. However, the Spaniard closed a tentative 35-shot rally with a perfect passing shot to save the breakpoint before securing a solid hold.

The games then went with the serves till 6-6 with both the players getting a positive hold, taking the set to the tiebreaker. The Russian held his nerves and kept his level high at the tiebreaker as he came on top to win the opening set tiebreaker 7-3 after 53 minutes of high-quality tennis at the O2 Arena.

Set two

Rafael Nadal kicked off the second set in a perfect manner as he got hold of a break on Medvedev’s serve for the first time in the match after three straight love holds in the previous set from Medvedev. This was also Nadal’s first break of serve at the ATP World Tour Finals 2019.

The world No.1 nearly squandered the early break lead in the next game after being 0-30 down. However, the Spaniard held his head high to close off the hold and consolidate his break.

Rafael Nadal then earned two set points after a perfect running lob while chasing a shot while Daniil Medvedev was serving to stay in the set at 5-3 but the 23-year-old denied the two breakpoints before gifting another opportunity to Rafael Nadal with a double fault.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion then went on to win his first set of the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals after breaking Medvedev for the second time at 6-3.

Set three

World No.4 Daniil Medvedev went off with an ideal start after breaking Rafael Nadal for the first time in the match as the 33-year-old lost concentration. The Mallorcan ended squandered a chance to get a rebreak in the next game as Medvedev consolidated the break.

Daniil Medvedev then took control of the match as he broke again to get a 4-0 lead in the final set. Rafael Nadal, however, kept his nerves to save a set point while serving at 5-1 and held his serve to stay alive.

The Spaniard then went onto break Medvedev and put some pressure back on the Russian. Nadal once again broke Medvedev while he was serving for the match as he leveled back the match at 5-5.

The World No.1 was back in business as he held his serve to get a 6-5 lead in the deciding set to win 5 games in a row. Medvedev then held a crucial serve game with four first serves after being 0-30 down to take the match to the final tiebreaker.

In the tiebreaker, Rafael Nadal went onto complete one of the best comebacks of the season to win the tiebreaker 7-4 and win the match after 2 hours and 48 minutes.