After losing to his German counterpart four times, Russian player Daniil Medvedev won the Shanghai Masters title, triumphing 6-4 6-1 against Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the final.
Following on from his runner-up appearance in the China Open, it still marks something of a return to consistency from Zverev, who has now reached two finals in two events. For Medvedev, however, it represents even greater recent success. The Russian world number four has reached six finals in a row and won his fourth event this year.
Having risen up the rankings quietly, Medvedev could be a real threat in Grand Slams come 2020 and will be a man to avoid when the Australian Open kicks off next season in January. Having finished as runner-up at the U.S. Open in the last major of 2019, Medvedev looks to be making a real run at 2020 as someone to watch out for.
For Zverev, the tournament represents a resurgence after a disrupted year on and off the tour. Medvedev will look back on his year with pride, and after losing to Rafa Nadal at Flushing Meadow, the Russian has won each set he’s played, and grown his worldwide fanbase.
As the dust settled in China, Medvedev declared the win “one of the most prestigious titles on the tour”. Asked by the organisers about what it meant to beat Zverev and capture the title, Medvedev said:
“I cannot believe it. It’s amazing to reach six finals in a row. I hope I can keep going.”
If the Russian continues in his current form, then he’s a lock for the ATP Finals in London and while he’ll be up against the collective might of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, there’s a sense that in the coming years, players such as the 23-year-old will be taking over the media mantle as well as the professional one.
Want to watch exactly how Medvedev got the better of Zverev in Shanghai? Watch the match highlights right here:
