After an exciting week of tennis at the ATP Finals, the semifinals are set in Turin. But will world #2 Daniil Medvedev continue his late-season surge or will Casper Ruud earn a shot at the biggest title of his career?
ATP Finals Semifinal Prediction
Daniil Medvedev vs Casper Ruud
Head-to-head: Medvedev 2-0 Ruud
The Norwegian has had a superb season and has overperformed again to reach the semifinals here. His level hasn’t really surprised me though as there were signs through the year that this was coming for him. His serve has continued to improve all year and the youngster has moved from a clay court specialist into an all-court threat.
However, he has some distance to travel still to reach the level of Medvedev. The Russian himself has improved beyond all recognition in my view in the last 18 months. This came to a head in the US Open as he dominated Djokovic, but has continued through Paris and now Turin. He was made to work by Jannik Sinner in the last round robin match, but that was nothing more than a glorified exhibition in the end.
Medvedev will be keen to re-assert himself over Djokovic in the final match. The pair are pulling clear at the very top of the game at the moment and a third final between them in a couple of months would add further weight to that assertion.
It would surprise me if Ruud, though he is an excellent returner, was able to break Medvedev more than once in the match. Ruud won’t falter under the pressure but the most likely scenario to me is that one break will be enough for the Russian and if not, then he could up his game in a tiebreak.
Prediction: Medvedev in 2
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