Russia’s Daniil Medvedev defeated Italy’s Jannik Sinner to win his first title of the season at the Rotterdam Open. Medvedev won by 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the final and with this win, he is back in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.
The Russian lost the opening set as he could not find his rhythm but he was able to get going in the next two sets. Medvedev admitted it was a tough match mentally for both players.
“It was a very tough match, I would say mentally for both of us, I think,” said Medvedev, who now holds a 10-4 record in Rotterdam. “Jannik was on top of me, especially in the first part of the first set. I managed to come back into the set even though, in my opinion, I was playing worse than him. Maybe that gave me some time to find my rhythm.
“I started playing just a little bit more offensive on a few shots, and it managed to work well at the beginning of the second set. I just managed to continue pushing him mentally down until the end of the match.”
This was the 16th tour-level title for Medvedev and his 15th on hard courts. Medvedev is delighted to claim his first title of the season in the first quarter of the year and also to find his form.
“It’s great because it’s still the beginning of the year,” added Medvedev. “My third tournament of the year, and already a title. Last year I needed 12 tournaments or something like this. Beating great players, playing great here.
“Mentally it’s tough to come back after you [drop out] of the Top 10… I’m just happy to find my form and am looking forward to the next tournament and hopefully I can continue in this way.”
On the other hand, Jannik Sinner was also happy with his own performance throughout the week as he brought his best to the court. The Italian will take a jump of two places to 12th place.
“I played many matches in the past days and I’m very happy to be in this kind of position,” reflected a positive Sinner, who will rise two spots to No. 12 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings on Monday, after the match. “Obviously in the first set I felt great, I started off in the best way. In the second, the momentum changed a little bit and in the third set I didn’t serve that well.
“But I think I have improved, especially against him, and so I will try to look forward to [more] of these kinds of matches.”
