ATP Doha: How can Andy Murray hold his own against Daniil Medvedev?
Andy Murray is fighting for his first title since Antwerp 2019 in the final of the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Doha today. However, opponent Daniil Medvedev is the favorite.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Feb 25, 2023, 12:55 am
Andy Murray has won 46 titles in his fantastic career. It's hard to assume that no one else will join them in Doha today. The starting position before the final against Daniil Medvedev is too clear. The Russian has won the two previous encounters in two sets (in Miami 2022 and in Brisbane 2019), Medvedev had to play a game and several sets less in Doha - and also came to Qatar last week with the recommendation of winning the tournament in Rotterdam .
On the other hand: Andy Murray is almost exclusively responsible for small tennis miracles in 2023. In the current tournament, he fended off several match points against Lorenzo Sonego in round one and against Jiri Lehecka in the semifinals on Friday. The veteran did that at the Australian Open against Matteo Berrettini. The old BIss is back - although: it was actually never gone. But Andy Murray has been able to rely on his body again this season, which can also handle four three-set games in a row.
Murray was able to celebrate his last triumph in Antwerp in 2019, by the way against Stan Wawrinka in the final. The Swiss could have reached the semi-finals in Marseille almost at the same time as Murray, but lost to Arthur Fils.
Medvedev brilliant on defense
How can the two-time Olympic gold medalist face Daniil Medvedev? Well: It will not work with variation alone. Grigor Dimitrov recently tried that in Rotterdam, Medvedev accepted with thanks and won easily. Medvedev's defense is as brilliant as it was at its best about a year and a half ago, the serve works quite well - and the 2021 US Open champion is also putting pressure on the forehand again. Maybe Murray just needs to get his opponent on the net as often as possible: Daniil Medvedev still doesn't feel comfortable there.
Anything but the 17th title for the 27-year-old from Moscow would be a surprise. Medvedev showed why in the semi-finals against Félix Auger-Aliassime, who once again lost his teeth on the Russian.