Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev extended his winning streak to 17 matches at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Tuesday, defeating Alexander Zverev despite suffering a heavy fall and an ankle injury.
The fifth seed beat the 12th-seeded German 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 in a three-hour and 16-minute match that saw him fight through pain and injury to secure his place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Medvedev said, “When I twisted [my ankle], I thought I was going to stand up just fine. But then the pain started growing very fast, so I was like ‘That is not a good sign.'” He also added, “What was surprising was it was much easier to run than walk. So when I was walking I was limping and then I was running fine.”
Medvedev’s impressive gameplay
In the match against Zverev, Medvedev delivered an impressive gameplay, striking 40 winners and showcasing his trademark defensive skills. He stood deep behind the baseline to soak up Zverev’s hitting, cutting down on errors as the match progressed, and eventually wearing down the German player.
After losing the opening set, Medvedev saved all 10 break points he faced in the second set, twice rallying from 0/40. He then leveled the match in the tie-break, producing a stunning defensive smash at 1/1.
In the third set, Medvedev recovered from squandering a match point on serve at 5-4, with Zverev breaking back. Medvedev broke again when Zverev hit a double fault, and then held serve to advance after three hours and 16 minutes.
The win against Zverev marks the 13th chapter in their rivalry, with Medvedev now leading the ATP Head2Head series against the German, 7-6. This win also avenges Medvedev’s loss against Zverev in the title match at the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals.
Medvedev’s winning streak
Currently ranked No. 5 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, Medvedev is chasing his fourth consecutive title, having triumphed in Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai in the past month. With this win, he will continue his quest in California against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Zverev, who missed the second half of the last season due to a right ankle injury during his Roland Garros semi-final against Rafael Nadal, struggled to find his best form when he returned to the Tour in January.
However, he has produced more consistent performances in recent weeks, advancing to the semi-finals in Dubai before his run to the fourth round in Indian Wells.
