On a roll, Medvedev steers Russia to ATP Cup title

After celebrating ir ATP Cup triumph as teammates for Russia, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will go ir own ways at Australian Open next week and may meet at Melbourne Park as rivals in quarterfinals.

Medvedev improved his winning streak to 14 matches and secured Russia’s 2-0 victory over Italy in ATP Cup final on Sunday when he beat Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena. Rublev had given his team a commanding start with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Fabio Fognini.

. 4-ranked Medvedev has certainly been peaking, winning his last 10 matches against top-10 players, including a sweep of top three at ATP Finals last year and a close victory over Alexander Zverev in semifinals here.

“It’s a confidence boost,” he said.

Australian Open starts Monday but Medvedev and Rublev, who has won five titles and 45 singles matches since start of 2020, get a day off before ir first-round matches.

As for having such a run of big matches so close to a major, Medvedev said he wouldn’t kw for a couple of weeks wher it was ideal preparation for a major or t.

“Get momentum going, sometimes it helps you — I did last year (when) I won two tournaments in a row,” he said. “At same time it’s tiring. Played four tough matches, yesterday especially.”

Russians didn’t lose a singles match during group st or playoffs this week, and were second team to win ATP Cup after vak Djokovic led Serbia to inaugural title last year.

first edition featured 24 countries and was std in three Australian cities: Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. Because of restrictions imposed during COVID-19 pandemic, including a two-week quarantine for all international arrivals, this year it was cut to 12 teams and played entirely at Melbourne Park. Along with five or tuneup tournaments.

Italy veteran Fognini was in team that lost to Russia in group st last year. In final, he said it was a bit of a blur.

“We played with two best shape guys in circuit at moment,” Fognini said. “Especially in my case, it’s tough to say, but I don’t have se kind of matches, this kind of speed during point. At moment was too much.”

It appeared that Rublev and Medvedev hadn't looked too far ahead in Australian Open draw, until Russia team captain Evgeny Donskoy raised topic of ir projected quarterfinal match at post-match news conference.

“I’m just actually more happy for guys that y’re achieving level that is going to be out of limit soon because y’re playing unbelievable tennis,” Donskoy said. “Yeah, just wishing m to play same like y played today in main draw of Australian Open. If level going to be same, se guys going to see each or in quarterfinals.”

Medvedev, who is seeded fourth and opens against Vasek Pospisil, said: "Yeah, it’s going to be great. You cant change draw. If it happens, it’s perfect.”

Rublev, who is seeded 7th and opens against Yannick Hanfmann, said “I wish.”

“It’s too far to say something about it w. We have to go match by match. Daniil have tough first round. Me, I have as well. We’re t going to meet in second round, so we need to win couple of matches first.”

Im credits: AP