Medvedev beats Zverev to reach Halle final
DPA
Halle (Germany)
Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive record against Alexander Zverev on Saturday to deny the German on home grass and reach the Halle final.
The third seed prevailed 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), 6-4 over the second seed in the semi-final of the Wimbledon warm-up in the west of Germany.
Medvedev had the only break point of the first set but failed to take it, only to fly through the tie-break and seize the initiative.
The Russian, who now bosses the head-to-heads over the German 13-7, went 2-0 up in the second set but saw the home favourite hit back.
Medvedev soon squandered three match points on Zverev's serve at 5-6 and the German, who had been sick again in his quarter-final, then dominated the second set tie-break.
The 29-year-old Medvedev then broke for 2-1 in the decider and wrapped up a meeting in Sunday's showpiece with Kazakhstan's unseeded Alexander Bublik, who beat Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Bublik had shocked world number one Jannik Sinner in the last 16.
It is Medvedev's first final in 15 months.
'I am happy with my level, I played great,' Medvedev said courtside. 'I could have done much better when I had the break in the second but it is normal. The same happened in the third set that when I had the break, he started playing better, returning better.
'I am happy that in the third set I managed to stay more composed and managed to save those break points. All the matches (against Zverev) are very tight. When the matches are tight like today, they can go any way.'
Zverev has again flattered to deceive this year with Munich his only tournament victory. He lost the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner and went out in the last eight at the French Open.
The world number three heads to Wimbledon - the third grand slam of the season - in mixed form as he seeks a first major singles title.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has twice reached the semi-finals at the All England Club and is again looking strong on grass. Wimbledon begins on June 30.
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