Medvedev salvages set points to fuel Turin chase
Daniil Medvedev stares down early peril in Almaty, turning defensive saves into offensive dominance against Fabian Marozsan and setting up a semi-final test against surging James Duckworth.
In the thinning air of Almaty, Daniil Medvedev rediscovered his competitive edge, refusing to let a shaky start derail his momentum at the Almaty Open. The former world No. 1 navigated a tense first set against Fabian Marozsan, saving three set points at 4-5 to claim a 7-5, 6-2 victory that propels him into his third straight ATP Tour semi-final. This performance, marked by 27 winners and just 12 unforced errors, underscores a late-season revival that has him climbing the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin for the Nitto ATP Finals.
Saving the set ignites his rhythm
Medvedev’s opener unfolded under pressure, with Marozsan’s aggressive returns forcing the Russian to dig deep on serve, blending deep crosscourt backhands to buy time and reset his footing on the medium-paced hard courts. Once he clawed back, his game sharpened, incorporating inside-out forehands to stretch the court and open angles for down-the-line passes that pinned his opponent. The shift from vulnerability to control highlighted his growing confidence, especially after recent semi-final runs in Beijing and Shanghai.
The crowd’s tension eased as Medvedev sealed the match, his serve finding reliable depth to neutralize Marozsan‘s one–two combinations and limit break opportunities. This tactical patience, honed under new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, transformed early doubts into a platform for consistency, with slices disrupting rhythm and setting up aggressive transitions.
“The first set was really tough, I had to save three set points,” said Medvedev. “But I’m really happy with the way I played, especially after this moment, and I’m happy I managed to win. I served really well today, and I managed to step up my game when I needed to, so I hope I can continue playing this way.”
Coaching tweaks sharpen late surge
Back in August, following a disjointed season start, Medvedev had tempered expectations for the Nitto ATP Finals, viewing the Turin path as secondary to broader form recovery. Now, at 29, he’s up two spots to 13th in the live race—starting October at 20th—and eyeing a seventh consecutive appearance as the 2020 champion. The guidance from Johansson and Goetzke has refined his patterns, emphasizing serve reliability and quicker one–two punches to counter returners on surfaces like Almaty’s, where steady bounce rewards his flat groundstrokes.
Each victory builds emotional momentum, turning seasonal pressure into focused drive, with the thin air amplifying ball speed and suiting his probing baseline style. As the race tightens, this resurgence feels like a blueprint for hard-court reliability heading into the year-end push.
Duckworth’s upset sets tactical duel
Awaiting in the semi-finals is qualifier James Duckworth, whose 6-3, 6-2 upset of third seed Flavio Cobolli demonstrated relentless movement and precision over 91 minutes. The Australian saved all five break points he faced, per ATP Stats, rising 30 spots to No. 108 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and marking his second semi-final at this ATP 250 event after reaching the 2021 final. Duckworth’s low slices and directional changes thrive on these courts, forcing longer rallies that test opponents’ endurance.
For Medvedev, the matchup pits power against defense, where varying underspin backhands could disrupt Duckworth’s counterpunching and open the court for inside-in forehands. With Almaty’s lights highlighting every slide and sprint, this clash becomes a proving ground, where a deep run could lock in Turin points and affirm his evolving edge.
