Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev has claimed his third consecutive title after defeating compatriot Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-2 in the Dubai Tennis Championships. Medvedev, who had previously won the Doha and Rotterdam titles, dominated from the start of the match, breaking Rublev’s serve in the opening game. 

The victory also marked his 14th unbeaten match in a row and 18th tour-level title. The former world number one player had defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals and did not drop a single set throughout the tournament.

Medvedev’s victory is all the more impressive as he had briefly dropped out of the top 10 rankings following an early exit from the Australian Open. However, the 27-year-old has responded exceptionally well to the setback, building an unbeaten streak and securing his place at the top of the men’s tennis circuit.

Speaking after the match, Medvedev said: “It’s amazing because the start of the year was not perfect. In tennis, when you don’t win tournaments, you’re always doubting no matter what happens in practice, so I was doubting a lot, and now it just feels better. I’m really happy with these three weeks and looking forward to the next ones.”

Rublev, who was the defending champion in Dubai, was no match for Medvedev on the day. The former junior rivals had a tactical match, with Rublev attempting to make his opponent suffer and Medvedev returning in kind. In the end, Medvedev emerged victorious, but he is aware that every match is different and will require a different strategy.

Russian and Belarusian tennis players were banned from competing at Wimbledon last year and are still awaiting confirmation that they will be able to participate in this year’s tournament. However, with Medvedev’s recent run of success, fans and critics alike will be eager to see him back on the court soon.

Leon Osamor