MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Daniil Medvedev shot Russia into the ATP Cup final on Saturday with a tight 3-6 6-3 7-5 win over Alexander Zverev who blocked injuries after being destroyed by Germany racket in harassment about lost service. break.
Russia will meet Italy in the final on Sunday after Matteo Berrettini sealed a 2-0 victory over Spain by defeating Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 7-5.
Zverev was treated for a lower back injury in the second set against Medvedev and shook his racket into court after slapping a wild service into the tramlines to break it at 5-5 in the decision set.
In a madcap finish, Medvedev scored twice on the point of the game and saved five rest points before finally putting a hand-to-hand shot down the line that Zverev could only push. fada.
“It was weird,” Medvedev said at number four in the world after closing the tie 2-0 to Russia.
“A crazy, happy game to win, even if there weren’t many of my favorites.”
Fostering a sore back, Rafa Nadal, number two in the world, sat out of another game for Spain. His teammate Pablo Carreno Busta lost 6-2 1-6 6-4 to Fabio Fognini in the game earlier.
Andrey Rublev got Russia off to a good start with a 3-6 6-1 6-2 win over Jan-Lennard Struff.
Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Edited by Peter Rutherford