Medvedev, Thiem set final clash at ATP Finals

The 27 year-old Austrian finally came through a unusual encounter with the world number at the O2 Arena today, beating him 7-5 6-7 7-6 in almost three hours and on a sixth match point.

Thiem took their last match in the semi-finals of this year's US Open in straight sets, but the Russian served for the second and third sets before falling in close tie-breaks, 9/7 and 7/5.

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev defeated Spanish player Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the final tournament of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in London, securing a place in the ATP final.

En route to his first Grand Slam title, Thiem beat Medvedev in the quarter-finals.

Rafael Nadal admitted he squandered a "big opportunity" after failing to serve out his ATP Finals semi-final against Daniil Medvedev.

Rating his opponent highly, the big Russian said Thiem, on current form, would prove to be a tough competitor for him in the final.

The Russian, who has won nine consecutive matches in 2020, will play Dominic Thiem for the title. "I got so tight in the second-set tie-break, first of all because to play these legends is always going to be something special". I thought after my first big title in NY maybe I'm going to be a little bit more calm but that was a mistake I guess. If I manage to play as well as I did today and show up with a high quality of tennis, I think I have a good chance to win. "I'm incredibly happy to be through".

Nadal was quick to push credit over to Medvedev.

By the start of the third set, Medvedev had struck twice the number of total winners and made just three more unforced errors than Nadal, suggesting that Medvedev's aggressive, courageous play was additionally accurate.

Pep Guardiola wants Lionel Messi to end his career at FC Barcelona
City have since emerged as his most likely destination, although manager Pep Guardiola wants to see Messi remain at Barca. But he finishes this year the contract and I don't know what's going to happen in his mind.

"I sincerely wish for him that he overcomes this soon and that he can focus on his life and tennis career". "But I guess it wasn't developed and it wasn't there because we just did not have the cases like this", said Djokovic, who used to be president of the ATP's player council before he resigned earlier this year.

After defeating Alexander Zverev to advance to reach the final four of the ATP Finals, Novak Djokovic said tennis authorities could adopt clearer policies on domestic abuse in light of allegations made against the U.S. Open runner-up by his ex-girlfriend.

Djokovic, already assured of finishing the year ranked No. 1 for a record-tying sixth time, was trying to match Roger Federer's mark of six ATP Finals trophies.

Like in the first set, Nadal suddenly served for this one at 5-4.

Nadal snuck an early break and behind some strong net play, hung on to a first set win.

Medvedev, who is 1-3 against Thiem, has that momentum going again.

"I don't know what happened".

Medvedev warmed up by blowing away Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 6-3 late Friday in the empty O2 Arena, topping their group with three wins in six sets. And I also think he's returning better.