Davis Cup: Andrey Rublev beats Elias Ymer - 1-0 for Russia
As expected , Andrey Rublev gave Russia the lead in the Davis Cup quarter-finals against Sweden in 2021. Rublev had his hands full at 6: 2, 5: 7 and 7: 6 (3) against Elias Ymer.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 02, 2021, 06:25 pm
Those were glorious times when the Swedes with Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Anders Jarryd and Joakim Nyström sent a team into the Davis Cup matches that could take on any opponent. And who also brought a considerable number of fans with them, who created a good atmosphere in the corresponding halls. Neither was noticeable for a long time on Thursday in the Caja Magica. After all: Robin Söderling is a man on the Swedish captain's bench who, in his career, which was far too short due to illness, was one of the absolute best in the world.
Despite a strong start in the second set against Andrey Rublev, Elias Ymer seemed to have no chance until the end of the second half. It is all the more remarkable that the Swede earned an extra time at the last possible moment and thus the chance of a sensation. In the end it wasn't quite enough: Rublev prevailed with 6: 2, 5: 7 and 7: 6 (3).
Medvedev can fix the semi-finals
Andrey Rublev could not count on loud support (like the Kazakhs against Serbia on Friday), but the playful class of the fifth in the world rankings is undisputed. Even if he lost to Feliciano Lopez in the group stage of the final tournament. Against Ymer, Rublev quickly made up for a 2-0 deficit in the second half after winning the first set. The favorite, however, failed to serve at the score of 5-4, and Ymer managed the re-break, bringing the crowd to life after all. With the second air, Ymer went straight through, won 16 of the last 20 points in the second set and this 7: 5.
In the decision, Rublev developed three break chances in the seventh game with a 0:40, Ymer equalized these with a lot of risk. The Russian's fourth possibility destroyed Ymer with an ace. At the score of 4: 4 Rublev was again unable to use one of several breakballs. In the tie-break, however, Rublev showed himself to be the better server. And ended the matter after 2:11 hours of play.
With his victory Rublev provided Daniil Medvedev with an assist to bring the Russians into the semifinals. Medvedev plays the second game of the day, he has to play against Mikael Ymer. Should the second in the world rankings prevail, the semi-finals will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m. against the German team, which had already defeated Great Britain 2-1 on Tuesday.