Astana – Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the ATP tournament in Astana on Saturday, when opponent Daniil Medvedev unexpectedly resigned at the conclusion of the second set.
With the score at 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), Medvedev conceded the match prior to the fourth set, surprising even Djokovic.
“I’m truly stunned,” Djokovic said. “He appeared to be in perfect health, but in the last seven or eight points I saw he was moving more slowly…
“I sincerely hope his damage is not too severe. Daniil is a fantastic man, a fighter, and a formidable competitor.
He disclosed that he had strained an adductor muscle in his leg.
In Sunday’s final, the 21-time Grand Slam champion will face Stefanos Tstisipas as he attempts to win his 90th ATP championship.
Djokovic has won seven of his nine matches against the Greek, including the French Open final last year.
Medvedev defeated Djokovic in a singles match for the first time since Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final.
In a grueling tie-break, Djokovic evened a gripping encounter in which both players were at or near their best.
However, Medvedev signaled that he was unable to continue, allowing Djokovic to advance to his 128th ATP final.
“It was such a close match, especially in the second set,” Djokovic said of the contest between two former world No. 1s.
“I would estimate that he was the superior player in both sets.
“I was struggling and searching for a solution. I found a way to win the second, but I’m unhappy for the tournament, for these people who were enjoying the match, and for Daniil that this is how it had to end.”
Earlier in the day, the third-seeded Tsitsipas defeated Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to go to his sixth final of the season.
Being a loser was not easy, according to Tsitsipas. “Having to contend with a formidable opponent on the other side of the net made it a really physical contest.
“I am happy with my determination to make things function so nicely.”
A break in the first game of the match was sufficient for the fifth-seeded Rublev to win the first set.
However, Tsitsipas improved as the match progressed, and in the 10th game of the second set, he made his move to force a third set.
The 24-year-old was once again impregnable in the third set, clinching victory after two hours and ten minutes and improving his head-to-head record against Rublev to 6-4.
“My mindset has shifted,” Tsitsipas continued. “I played with a more aggressive style and did not have any good fortune.”