- Alexander Zverev [5] v. Diego Schwartzman [8]
- Novak Djokovic [1] v Daniil Medvedev [4]
LONDON, UK – Alexander Zverev and Diego Schwartzman kick off singles action on Day Four, with Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev battling to top the group.
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Alexander Zverev [5] v. Diego Schwartzman [8] | H2H: Tied at 2-2
Despite making a spirited start to his first Nitto ATP Finals by breaking the World No. 1, Diego Schwartzman soon found out just what it takes to keep pace with the top players at the season-ending finale.
He could not maintain that level as Novak Djokovic stepped up in gear, and now is in the hunt for his first win in London. On the other hand, Alexander Zverev would do well to scour the halls and look for his serve.
His yips put him on the back foot in the first set against Daniil Medvedev and although he steadied the ship a little in the second set, it was too late to reverse his fortunes, as the 2018 champion found himself on the losing side of his opener.
It is a tighter affair to call against the Argentine, who out of the two debutants seemed to at least have a sense of hustle about him. His speed around the court, and his need to replace the easy power taller players have with pin-point accuracy could yet give Zverev a hard time.
The languid German can pound away effortlessly from the back of the court, but is also pretty handy at coming forward and finishing off at the net. Schwartzman will have to keep him guessing and moving him around, and will have to work hard for the win, but he should take some positivity from the fact his most recent win over him came on hard courts at last year’s US Open.
It is still a tough ask, especially if Zverev’s serve does find its way to the arena. When it works it is a great carrier of free points, but if it lapses as it did in his opener, the door will be open for Schwartzman to perhaps spring a surprise.
Prediction: Zverev in three sets.
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Novak Djokovic [1] v Daniil Medvedev [4] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-2
This is already Medvedev’s most successful venture at the Nitto ATP Finals, having gone 0-3 last year on his debut, and at times cheekily took advantage of a struggling Zverev to score his first win – with an under-arm serve.
Djokovic found himself a break down early on but picked up the pace, and having lost just one completed match this year, he still remains the favourite to coast to the top of the group.
There battles have always been intense and seeing some of the rallies between Medvedev and Zverev, we should settle in for a long night as this pair could be slugging it out over three sets.
Medvedev lacks the power that you would normally associate with taller players, but with an unorthodox forehand, a solid backhand and excellent slices, he can give opponents issues, and despite looking like he has the muscle-mass of a bean-pole, he can grind it out with the best of them.
Djokovic started slowly against Schwartzman but quickly found his rhythm and the general belief is that the courts will play quicker as the tournament wears on. This could be a tough middle-round though and expect this to be another long one.
Prediction: Djokovic in three sets.
Play starts on Day Four of the Nitto ATP Finals at 12pm (GMT).
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