Daniil Medvedev will not compete at this year's ATP Finals in Turin. The 2020 champion kept his chances alive after conquering the ATP 250 event in Almaty last week. However, he needed another deep run at this week's ATP 500 tournament in Vienna.
Four days after beating Corentin Moutet in the title match in Almaty, the Russian suffered a 7-6, 6-4 defeat against the Frenchman in the second round in the Austrian capital, staying miles behind the last spot that leads to Turin.
Daniil asked for a medical timeout after the third game of the second set, bandaging his right ankle but fighting until the end. However, the lower-ranked player kept his composure and brought the victory home, extending his career-best season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Moutet claimed six points more than Medvedev. He denied six of eight break points and stole the rival's serve four times to make the difference. The Frenchman attacked and landed 34 winners and 31 unforced errors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Daniil had the upper hand from the baseline, while Corentin stood strong at the net. The Russian sprayed a forehand error in the first game of the match and suffered an early break.
He saved another break point in the third game and missed an opportunity on the return in game six. A left-hander struggled on serve in the eighth game and hit a double fault on the third break point to bring his rival back to 4-4.
The set went into a tie break, and Medvedev forged a 3-1 advantage. However, he played a terrible volley at 3-4 and netted a routine forehand at 3-6, allowing his rival to rattle off six points and claim the opener in 74 minutes.
Corentin saved two break points in the first game of the second set before losing serve at 2-2. He pulled it back straight away and provided another break in game eight for a 5-3 advantage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Daniil pulled the break back with a crafty drop shot winner in game nine, reducing the deficit and remaining in touch. Instead of buildingon that, the Russian suffered a break at love in game eight to lose serve and hit the exit door.
