Rafael Nadal defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in three tough sets, 6-4 4-6 6-2, and made it to the semifinals of the ATP Finals. The Spaniard will now play Russian star Daniil Medvedev in another difficult match. Although, Nadal leads their head to head with three wins and cero losses.
Tsitsipas Won’t Defend his Title
Nevertheless, Nadal came through in what was a difficult match and defeated the young Greek. This means that there will be a new champion this year. Nadal now has a chance to win this event which he was close to winning back in 2013. Tsitsipas indeed gave it all that he could but Nadal was just too strong in the last set.
The young Greek only won one match this year at the ATP Finals, over Andrey Rublev in three tough sets. Tsitsipas has time now to take a break and then get ready for the upcoming Australian Open. Nadal looked in trouble in the second set when he lost it through a double fault and did not look like his usual self. Nonetheless Rafa fought through and came back and breezed through the third set.
Since the defending champion Tsitsipas is out, there will be a new champion this year. Djokovic is the only player in the semifinals that has won this trophy before. He has won it five times, but the last time was back in 2015. This is a title that Nadal is missing in his trophy case and he is definitely eying to win it this year.
Nadal Leads The Head To Head Against Medvedev
Without a doubt, Nadal has the upper hand on the Russian beating him every time that they have both met. Both players have played each other three times all in 2019. They first met in the Masters 1000 Canada last year where Nadal won easily in two sets. Next, they met in the final of the US Open in an incredible match. Nadal was two sets up and then Medvedev came back to tie the match two sets a piece. However, Nadal came through in the last set and defeated the Russian to claim the title. Lastly, they met in the ATP Finals and the Spaniard won in three sets in the group stages.
Could Face Djokovic In A Dream Final
Clearly it would be a dream final between Nadal and Djokovic in the ATP Finals. Although both players must get past their semi-finals opponents for this magical match to occur. Nadal is not the dominating player that he is in clay courts, however he can adapt to the hard courts as he has done in these ATP Finals. All in all this could be the year that Nadal can finally claim his first ATP Finals that has slipped through his hands twice in his career.
Main Photo from Getty.
