Erste Bank Open: Kevin Anderson surprisingly throws Daniil Medvedev out
Kevin Anderson is surprisingly in the semi-finals of the Erste Bank Open. The South African bowled the world number sixth Daniil Medvedev 6: 4 and 7: 6 (5) from the tournament on Friday afternoon.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 30, 2020, 05:48 pm
By Michael Rothschädl from the Wiener Stadthalle
Actually, Kevin Anderson already looked at the Erste Bank Open as if he would have to prematurely say goodbye to the tournament in which he could win the title in 2018. Against local hero Dennis Novak, the South African was already behind with 3: 6 in the tie-break of the decisive third set, but was able to break free again and made it into the second round. In this, the two-time Grand Slam finalist should surprisingly take Pablo Carreño Busta out of the tournament. Well, in the quarterfinals, Daniil Medvedev was the number four of the tournament.
But Anderson got off to a better start in the game, taking the break in the first game after Mevdedev's somewhat unfocused beginning. Given the strength of the South African's serve, one could certainly speak of a small preliminary decision in the first sentence - which Anderson should confirm after a little more than half an hour. The world ranking 111. fended off the only break chance of the Russian and closed set one with another safe service game.
Medvedev prevents another early break
Daniil Medvedev was better in the match, but still seemed visibly annoyed by the heavy impact of his opponent, with which he should always come to free points. Therefore, in the second round there was almost a repetition of the events from set one, Anderson found breakball again after a double error by the Russian, but he fought off with a ball on the line. The South African should have two break chances in the next match of the world number six, but Medvedev was able to thwart them again.
Kevin Anderson didn't get any more chances when serving the Russian, Medvedev found better and better in this game as a server and got many free points. Anderson was also able to continue seamlessly with the services from sentence one - a tie-break consequently had to ensure the decision. In this, the Russian got the first mini-break, but Anderson benefited from a lack of concentration on the part of the Russian and immediately managed to gain the advantage of a mini-break - and a little later to take the lead 5-2. The South African shouldn't let that go, after just under an hour and a half, the world ranked 111. the 6: 3 and 7: 6 (5) success perfect.
Kevin Anderson is now waiting for the winner of the quarter-final hit between Dominic Thiem and Andrey Rublev. The defending champion will go to Center Court immediately after Anderson's victory (live on ServusTV and in our live ticker ).