Medvedev Wins First In Milan

The inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals has begun with an upset.

Seventh seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia came back from a set down on Tuesday afternoon to surge to the top of Group B, knocking out countryman Karen Khachanov 2-4, 4-3(6), 4-3(2), 4-2 at the Fiera Milano.

The all-Russian battle was dominated by Khachanov in the early goings, as the 6’6” Russian controlled play with his heavy forehand. But his 6’6” countryman Medvedev evened the contest in an entertaining and back-and-forth tie-break.

In the third and fourth sets, Medvedev pulled away as he kept Khachanov in the back of the court and frequently dictated play. The seventh-seeded Medvedev in particular used his backhand up the line well against his countryman.

The opening match of the tournament also featured many of the innovations that will be the hallmark of the event. Both players talked with their coaches through headsets at the end of the second and third sets. There were at least two let serves that were played.

Well, one was played. On the first let serve, chair umpire Carlos Bernardes, out of habit, said let and then called let again because the players are to play all serves that hit the net cords.

Khachanov is one of the favourites to do well in Milan. He leads the field with 25 wins this season and has been one of the leaders of the #NextGenATP field this season.

But he is only 6-19 on hard courts this year and will now look to climb out of a 0-1 hole at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Medvedev has also been up and down in 2017, reaching six quarter-finals, a semi-final and his maiden final in Chennai, but also suffering losing streaks of six and eight. On Tuesday, though, he put it all together to become the first winner in Milan.