After a one-year hiatus of their long-running Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev made up for misplaced time with six Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences in 2023. 4 of these matchups got here on the ATP Masters 1000 degree and the sixth got here on the Nitto ATP Finals, with Medvedev posting a 5-1 file to enhance to 11-7 within the general sequence.
On the finish of a resurgent yr for each stars, ATPTour.com seems again on their six conferences from 2023.
Indian Wells R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5
In an eventful matchup on the BNP Paribas Open, Medvedev survived a stern problem from Zverev and a twisted ankle suffered throughout a fall within the second set. He hit 40 winners in a gritty victory that prolonged his successful streak to 17 matches.
Getting ready to defeat and with a tape job on his proper ankle, Medvedev fought off 10 break factors within the second set, together with two escapes from 0/40. Early within the tie-break, he produced one of many pictures of the season with an excellent defensive smash as he started to take management of the match. Whereas he missed out on a match level on serve at 5-4 within the remaining set, Medvedev managed to shut out the victory by serving out the win on the second time of asking after a late break.
“After I twisted [my ankle], I believed I used to be going to face up simply nice,” Medvedev stated of his dramatic fall. “However then the ache began rising very quick, so I used to be like ‘That isn’t a very good signal.’ I felt like I did not break it however I felt that one of many ligaments was just a little injured, so I believed I wasn’t going to have the ability to play.”
Monte-Carlo R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7)
For the second straight time in opposition to Zverev, Medvedev rallied from a set down to assert a tense three-set win. If he was on the ropes in Indian Wells, he was down on the canvas on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the place Zverev twice served for the match and missed out on two match factors.
Medvedev denied the German’s makes an attempt to serve out the win at 5-4 in each the second and third units, then erased two match factors within the third-set tie-break.
“That was a loopy match,” Medvedev stated of the matchup, which featured a mixed 11 service breaks amidst peaks and valleys for each gamers.
“He served two occasions for the match, he most likely ought to have performed higher, however that can be clay courts. I attempted to look at lots of tennis earlier than taking part in this match, and one factor that I noticed is you may come again at any second. The serve doesn’t rely as a lot, in order quickly as somebody will get just a little bit tight, the match can flip round in a single second. That’s what I managed to do.”
Rome R16, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-2, 7-6(3)
Medvedev entered the 2023 Internazionali BNL d’Italia with an 0-3 file in Rome, however he strung collectively six wins on the ATP Masters 1000 to assert his first clay-court title. After a three-set win within the second spherical, Medvedev kicked his marketing campaign into excessive gear with a straight-sets win in opposition to Zverev; he wouldn’t lose a set the remainder of the match.
Zverev struggled to interrupt down Medvedev’s defenses on the clay, even along with his huge serving, however the German recovered a break within the second set to power a tie-break. Undeterred, Medvedev reasserted himself down the stretch by dominating the baseline exchanges to seal his quarter-final place.
Cincinnati R16, Zverev d. Medvedev 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
In one other three-set basic between these two rivals, Zverev picked up his first win in opposition to Medvedev because the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals title match. It was additionally Zverev’s first High 10 win of the season.
On the Western & Southern Open, Zverev higher dealt with the windy situations in the important thing moments to prevail, saving two break factors at 4-4 within the remaining set earlier than breaking serve within the subsequent sport to wrap up the win in two hours, 34 minutes.
“It was very tough situations in opposition to a really tough opponent,” stated Zverev, who hit 36 winners within the victory. “He provides you nothing and it’s important to win the match your self and that’s what I did right this moment and I’m happy with that.
“I attempted to be affected person and also you simply need to take your possibilities, your alternatives. You aren’t going to get many as a result of we had been each serving fairly effectively. I misplaced three very tight matches [against Medvedev] earlier this yr, so I’m happy to have lastly gained one right this moment.”
Beijing SF, Medvedev d. Zverev 6-4, 6-3
Lower than two months after Cincinnati, Medvedev gained swift revenge on his rival with victory in a match of fine-margins on the China Open.
In a semi-final crammed with lung-busting rallies, Medvedev secured a late break in every set to earn the win. Each breaks had been claimed in supreme type with a pair of clutch passing pictures, together with on set level within the opening set.
Zverev had his possibilities too, however Medvedev saved all 4 breaks factors he confronted — two in every set — with well timed huge serves.
Nitto ATP Finals RR, Medvedev d. Zverev 7-6(7), 6-4
On this battle of former Nitto ATP Finals champions, Medvedev defeated Zverev to safe his place within the Turin semi-finals. The matchup was the pair’s sixth of the 2023 season and their fifth on the Nitto ATP Finals, nearing Pete Sampras and Boris Becker‘s file of seven matchups on the season finale.
Medvedev stormed out of the gates however Zverev was within the ascendancy late within the opening set along with his aggressive techniques. Along with his again in opposition to the wall, Medvedev saved two set factors in a tense opening tie-break and later fought off a break level late in set two earlier than breaking to finish the match.
“It was a really robust match mentally,” stated Medvedev, who gained 40 of 51 (78%) of his first-serve factors. “The tip of each units was very tight… Within the tie-break he had set level on his serve. I’m joyful as a result of this yr I may need misplaced some matches like this. I’m joyful to have the ability to win.”