Master Medvedev eclipses Zverev to win Shanghai title

Shanghai, October 13

Daniil Medvedev won his fourth title of a spectacular year with a thumping 6-4 6-1 victory over Alexander Zverev in the Shanghai Masters final today.

Victory for the 23-year-old Russian, contesting a sixth final in a row, was evident of the fact that he is the prime contender to join the “Big Three” of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The US Open finalist has finally beaten the German Zverev, another young contender at 22, in his fifth attempt and the world No. 4 needed just 74 minutes to seal the crown.

“I think the stadium was full today and you guys are amazing support, starting from my first match,” Medvedev told the crowd.

Zverev, long touted as the best of the new generation of men’s tennis stars, was error-prone, but had no complaints.

“As I said yesterday, you are probably the best player in the world right now,” the world No. 6 told Medvedev. “How you are playing is unbelievable,” the German added. Medvedev made a fast start, winning his service game and then breaking Zverev’s for an early 2-0 lead. Under a closed stadium roof because of rain, Zverev was suffocating, down 3-0 after 11 minutes. But the German sent down an ace to finally get a foothold in the match and then broke back for 3-2.

The duo went with serve until Zverev conceded the set with two calamitous double faults on the trot, the last of which he transpired to gift with a horribly mishit second serve that drew a few giggles from the crowd. — Reuters

Coco beats Ostapenko for first WTA title 

Linz (Austria): American teenager Coco Gauff won her first WTA title by beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 1-6 6-2 to capture the Upper Austria Ladies today. The 15-year-old, who reached the fourth round at the Wimbledon and third round at the US Open, bounced back after losing a one-sided second set to win comfortably. Gauff had earlier called Linz “my little lucky place” and its charm held for the teenager throughout the final despite a late wobble. After racing out to a 5-0 lead in the deciding set, Gauff dropped two late games to before closing out the match. AFP