By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 14, 2021
Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev edged Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 in an entertaining Marseille final charging to his 10th career title.
Photo credit: Open Provence 13 Facebook
Beneath the roof of the Palais de Sports, Daniil Medvedev continues to show quite an expansive ceiling.
The top-seeded Medvedev banged a series of biting returns edging Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 in an entertaining Marseille final charging to his 10th career title. All 10 of Medvedev's titles have come on hard courts, including six championships indoors.
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It's been a historic run for Medvedev, who knocked off world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Rafael Nadal and No. 3 Dominic Thiem en route to the 2020 ATP Finals crown becoming the first man to sweep the Top 3 in tournament history. Medvedev ended 2020 on a 10-match winning streak and started 2021 on a 10-match tear before bowing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final last month.
All that good work has propelled Medvedev to a special place. Tomorrow, Medvedev will rise to a career-high ranking of No. 2 joining an exclusive club. The 25-year-old Russian will be only the fifth world No. 2 since July 25th, 2005 joining Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Djokovic and Nadal.
“I am really happy about the number 10. It gets me to two digits, something which I dreamt of when I was a kid,” said Medvedev. “I think it is already a great number, but I am going to try to work more and get some more…
"I really like to play on hard courts. I feel like that is where my game suits me the best. I feel like I know the solutions I have to find during the match and that is what I did today.”
Contesting his fifth final in his last six events, Medvedev raised his 2021 record to 14-2 with both losses coming to Serbian opponents—Djokovic in the AO final and Dusan Lajovic in his Rotterdam opener.
Though Medvedev has struggled on the red clay of Roland Garros where he's failed to earn a main-draw win, the man who's fluent in French, attributes much of his success to his work with a French coach, plays with a French racquet and wears apparel from a French brand, was masterful in Marseille this week. Medvedev dropped serve just once in four tournament wins this week.
Today's final presented the classic contrast of Herbert's attacking game vs. Medvedev's baseline precision. Medvedev produced flat strikes on pivotal points and served with confidence cracking 13 aces, permitting just 11 points on first serve and fighting off four of five break points. An oppressive Medvedev won 20 of 24 points played on his serve in the final set.
In the opening set, Medvedev made his move breaking in the fifth game with some help from the Frenchman. Herbert double faulted and pushed a volley beyond the baseline as the Australian Open finalist broke for 3-2 after 14 minutes of play.
The lanky Frenchman used the drop shot to break right back in the sixth game—the first time Medvedev dropped serve in four matches this week. Herbert engaged chair umpire Fergus Murphy in a discussion about not starting the shot clock until all the balls were at the server's end of the court. When action resumed, Medvedev hit a sharp-angled forehand pass that Herbert could not control. His volley expired into net and the Russian snatched the third straight break in the seventh game.
The top seed's heavy serve echoed throughout the arena as Medvedev pounded down wide serves to reach double-set point. On his second set point, Medvedev lasered a backhand down the line to close it. The ATP Finals champion served 85 percent and pumped three aces snatching a one-set lead after 37 minutes.
A fine approach shot from Herbert set up a knifing backhand volley for a second break point in the fourth game. In a physical point that spanned more than 20 strokes, Medvedev finally drew the error to save break point in an exchange that left both men sucking in deep gulps of oxygen. Medvedev met the challenge evening it after four games.
In the sixth game, Herbert had a good look at a mid-court forehand on break point. One swing from a break lead, the Frenchman flattened his forehand into net. Medvedev exploited the lapse to dodge the pressure and hold for 3-3.
The third-ranked Russian held at 15 sending a high-quality second set into the tie breaker.
Reading a drop shot, Medvedev stumbled at the start but closed quickly flicking a backhand down the line for a mini break and a 3-2 tie breaker lead.
Down 2-4 in the breaker, Herbert amped up the attack. The Frenchman skipped a bold second serve off the line for 5-4. In a phenomenal display of attacking tennis, Herbert dug out a low volley, leaped for a high backhand volley then shoveled a shot down the line earning set points at 6-4.
Barking at beleaguered chair umpire Murphy apparently upset at the methodical pace of getting balls down to his end before serving, a distracted Medvedev pasted a backhand into net as Herbert forced a final set after 99 minutes.
A shrewd mind for situational tennis is a Medvedev asset. The Russian read the drop shot and won a rare rapid-fire next exchange to even at 30-all in the eighth game. Herbert calmed the stress attacking with confidence to even the decider after eight games.
Though Medvedev continued complaining to chair umpire Murphy over perceived suspect line calls, he repeatedly reset mentally before stepping to the line. Medvedev spiked his 13th ace down the T holding for 5-4 then dashing off court for a quick bathroom break.
Reflexing a tricky volley, Herbert covered the line but netted a stretch volley to face 15-30. A low Medvedev return handcuffed Herbert giving the Russian double championship point. Another buzzing return compelled one final error as Medvedev closed his 10th championship in two hours, 12 minutes.