ATP Masters Toronto: Daniil Medvedev turns match against "better" Hurkacz
Daniil Medvedev showed great fighting qualities in the quarter-final match at the ATP Masters tournament in Toronto against Hubert Hurkacz and won after a bad first set.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 14, 2021, 08:29 am
In the end it was 2: 6, 7: 6 (6), 7: 6 (5) for the second in the world rankings - and he then turned out to be a fair winner. "You were better today. Sorry that I won. Sorry, man," he told Hurkacz during the handshake on the network.
Hurkacz had won against Medvedev at Wimbledon and then reached the semi-finals, and in Toronto he also looked like the likely winner for a long time, in the third set he had a break chance at 5: 5 for a possible preliminary decision.
"He had his chances and was possibly the better player, he was sure of that for two sets. But that's tennis," said Medvedev afterwards. He managed to beat aces when it was necessary - 23 pieces in the end.
Medvedev: "He's one of the nicest guys - not me"
Of course, Medvedev also provided an amusing on-court interview when he praised Hurkacz in the highest tones. "We're not best friends now, but I think he's one of the nicest guys on the tour. I'm definitely not, but he is," said Medvedev. "He hugs everyone, that's nice to see. He even apologized for making me wait a bit." If Hurkacz plays the way he did against him, "that's the top five level."
Monfils desperate because of Isner's serves
Medvedev faces John Isner in the semifinals, who expanded his winning streak to 9 after his win in Atlanta. He won against Gael Monfils 7: 6 (5), 6: 4, fired 13 aces and only allowed one break chance. In any case, there was little to get for Monfils at Isner's serve, the Frenchman resorted to questionable means while waiting for the return. When he was fidgeting once, he drew a small reprimand from referee Mohamed Lahyani ("Gael!"), Even if he said afterwards that he would do it quite often.
A weak last service game at 4: 4 in the second set then brought the preliminary decision.
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