By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday March 13, 2021
Daniil Medvedev reached his 17th career final on Saturday in Marseille, and set a final clash with Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Photo Source: Open 13
Daniil Medvedev knew before the week started that he’d start next week at the ATP’s No.2-ranked player and therefore become the first non-Big 4 player to hold a Top 2 ranking since July 18, 2005.
But that news hasn’t stopped him from playing like a player that hungers for even more.
Today he breezed past an injured Matthew Ebden to book his 17th career final appearance at the Open 13, 6-4, 3-0 RET. Medvedev, who owns nine career titles, will face Pierre-Hugues Herbert in Sunday’s final.
“Today for sure tough to talk about the match when after 5-4, I already knew at 4-all he felt his groin hurting,” Medvedev said of his abbreviated win over surprise semifinalist Ebden. “Just before this it was a close match… really sorry for him and hopefully he can recover fast.”
Medvedev will face France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the final. Herbert continued his magnificent run of fine form on Saturday as he handed Ugo Humbert a 6-3, 6-2 thrashing behind 36 of 42 service points won. Herbert will take full confidence into the final after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals for his first ever Top 50 win.
“To be honest I didn’t expect to be here after one hour and winning 6-3, 6-2 against Ugo,” Herbert said after his match. “I just knew I had to play an amazing level [to win]. I just tried to play my game like I have since the beginning of the tournament. Tried to serve-and-volley and take some time away from Ugo. Today I just served amazingly well.”
Herbert and Medvedev have split their two previous tour-level meetings.