After witnessing numerous epic battles in the year-ending tournament, a new winner claimed the ATP Finals title. Rising to the occasion, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev bested Austria’s Dominic Thiem, giving a grandiose farewell to the O2 Arena in London. The 24-year-old Russian had almost lost in two straight sets, but came around and won 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

Before the final match, Daniil surpassed Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Diego Schwartzman, and Rafael Nadal. Even though all his encounters were equally close to the neck, Medvedev picked the Thiem victory as a great achievement.

“Dominic was at his best”: Daniil Medvedev

ATP Finals 2020 is the Russian’s second consecutive title following the Rolex Paris Masters 1000 triumph, also his biggest career win. With this, Daniil joins the list featuring Zverev and Tsitsipas as new champions of the year-end championship. Watch the winning moment!

Medvedev said, “It was the toughest victory in my life because Dominic is a really tough player to play. Today, he was at his best… That’s what I felt during the match. He was really close to winning it [in the] second set. I managed to stay there. I felt in the third set that I was really tired physically, for sure, but I felt like he started to miss some balls, he started to run a little bit slower because he was tired.”

Last year, the Russian had made an appearance in 6 consecutive finals; however, this year, he converted 2 in 2. Daniil now has 9 ATP singles titles and a perfect ending to an exhausting 2020 season.

“One of the best players in the history”: Medvedev on Dominic Thiem

What makes the victory more valuable is the quality of the opponent. The reigning US Open champion and World No. 3 Dominic Thiem is, without any doubt, the future of tennis. But, unfortunately, he is the second-best in the season finale for the second consecutive year.

Russian continued, “To make Dominic tired in a three-set match, not a five-set, I think is a great achievement. All these small things, Dominic is playing as [of] today [as] one of the best players in the history [of the sport], not yet maybe by the titles and Grand Slams, but as I say, playing [with the form of] today.”

As we say goodbye to London, we welcome yet another exotic location for the end of the season tournament. Next year: Turin, Italy.

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