Nadal missed the final in the ATP finals, Medvedev in the final

Nadal and Medvedev were absolutely eye-level, yet it was the Spaniard who behaved smarter with the score of 3: 3 and ensured clear ratios in the first set with three games in a row.

As a result, however, the 13-time French Open champion allowed himself some negligence, which Medvedev turned into a 4-1 lead.

Then it went crazy: Nadal took the lead 5: 4 with four wins, before being completely out of his mind on his serve and conceding a zero break.

Medvedev took advantage of the hour and forced a third set to the tiebreak (7: 4).

The Russian now had the momentum on his side, although a close duel remained.

In the seventh game, the preliminary decision: Medvedev interrupted Nadal’s serve for 4: 3 and this advantage could not be denied.

After two hours and 35 minutes, the world number four turned his first match point into another break.

While Medvedev is aiming for the biggest success of his career so far in the final against Thiem on Sunday (from 19:00 in the live ticker on Eurosport.de), Nadal must wait to close the last big gap in his collection of titles.

The 34-year-old achieved his best result so far at the ATP Finals in 2013, when he only failed in the final against Novak Djokovic.