Medvedev reveals what he expects from his showdown against Jódar in Shanghai
The Russian tennis player will face the Spanish player for the first time, with a spot in the ATP Shanghai final at stake, and he has revealed how he will prepare for it.
Daniil Medvedev has extended his winning streak on the Asian tour to 11 wins and 1 loss after overcoming Tommy Paul in the ATP Shanghai to reach the semifinals. This has led to him facing for the first time in his career Rafa Jódar for a spot in the final on Sunday, and the Russian player has revealed what he expects from the match.
Possibly Medvedev is the most in-form player on the Asian tour, while Jódar has been the breakout player of the year and has regained his best level after a few weeks of doubts. Therefore, a very contested duel is expected in which Daniil has acknowledged that he will not change much from what he has been doing and that he will adjust his game depending on what he finds on the other side of the net. Moreover, both are fully engaged in the fight to qualify for the ATP Finals, so this is much more than just a match.
Medvedev explains why he thinks he lost the second set
"I felt it was a very close set. In the first game, I think I saved three break points, but he managed to break my serve. I went for the second serve, missed... well, these things happen. Then I had a break point, and I also had another one at 2-1. And then, when the score was 4-1 with two breaks against me, I thought: ‘Well, I better regroup and prepare for the third set.’ So, at that moment, if an opportunity arose to recover the break, I would try, but I just kept playing decisively. I’m glad that in the third set I was able to improve my serve and stay solid; that was the key."
Match against Jódar
"In my opinion, when you see Roger facing Novak, or Novak against Rafa, it's clear that they make small adjustments from one match to another, as their head-to-head encounters are always very close. But, if you observe Novak throughout the year, you will see that he maintains the same style of play: he looks for a good serve, relies on his forehand, engages in good exchanges, and tries to get at least one break. As this is a fast court, it all comes down to trying to break the opponent's serve, staying solid with your own serve, and—regardless of who is on the other side of the net—looking for the occasional ace. Of course, as the match progresses, we will see how each plays. I expect a tough match; I will try to give my best."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Medvedev desvela qué espera de su duelo ante Jódar en Shanghái