ATP Finals: Medvedev vs. Thiem – not surprisingly – is better than the “dream ending”? – Sports

Not Djokovic against Nadal, but Thiem against Medvedev is the final of the ATP Finals. A look to the future?

It’s the old song of the ATP Tour: on the one hand the “Big 3” Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, on the other the generation proclaimed as the changing of the guard around Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas .

The usual picture emerged at the Grand Slam tournaments this year: under normal circumstances, you can’t (yet) outrun the veterans. Djokovic triumphed in Melbourne, Nadal in Paris.

Is Thiem’s ​​main title flawed?

Federer and Nadal were absent from the US Open in New York, Djokovic lifted the decision with his disqualification. The way was clear for a new winner. In this case, Thiem won, who had previously lost three important finals to Nadal (2x) and Djokovic.

Especially in the final of this year’s Australian Open, the Austrian Djokovic had demanded everything, but had to admit defeat in 5 sets. It was a similar story for Medvedev at the US Open in 2019, when he lost to Nadal in a memorable final.

At this year’s ATP finals, however, the challengers turned the tables and proved, at least in the person of Thiem and Medvedev, that they can not only keep up with those established, but also win.

The Austrian defeated Nadal 7: 6, 7: 6 in a high-level match in the group stage. Medvedev also gave Djokovic a lesson in the other group at 6: 3, 6: 3.

In the semifinal on Saturday the two then continued with their masterpiece by beating Nadal and Djokovic in three sets each and thus preventing the “dream final”. Thus, a new champion of the ATP finals will be chosen in the final on Sunday between Medvedev and Thiem.

It can now be said that the ATP Finals in recent years have always produced a new surprise winner with Zverev, Tsitsipas or Grigor Dimitrov. But this year, where numerous tournaments were canceled due to the crown pandemic, all players were off to a fresh start as almost never before at the end of the year.

Seen in this light, the 2020 edition should certainly offer a glimpse into the coming years. And it doesn’t matter if Thiem or Medvedev win the race: there is no question of a surprise winner.