' I was preparing mentally for it but I somehow saved a set point.' 'I was thinking it was going to be a third set,' Rublev, who will be gunning for his 13th ATP title on Saturday, said. 'We always have tough battles and I'm looking forward to the next one.'Įarlier, Russian Rublev (25) reached the title clash with a first career victory against Alexander Zverev (25), closing out a 6-3 7-6(9) win on his sixth match point. It was more humid today and he wasn't happy sweating, I wasn't happy sweating. Every time you play Novak, it's physically tough. 'I was feeling great before this match but feeling a little worse now. I stayed composed and I'm really happy to be in the final. 'I'm happy I managed to play at a higher level than him.

he has 22 Grand Slams so it's going to be tough and it's not certain you'll win,' Medvedev said. ' When you play Novak you just have to play your best and hope he doesn't on the day because when he does. Open champion Medvedev peeled away further with an ace for a crucial hold and sealed a 13th straight win in his next service game.

It was the opening Medvedev could have only dreamed of in his bid to claim a fifth win over Djokovic in 14 matches and the Russian pounced for a 4-2 lead after some high-octane tennis.įormer U.S. The 35-year-old had his moments and looked the better player after going down 2-5 in the opening set but he dropped his serve again early in the second after hitting a return long. Playing in his first tournament since winning the Adelaide and Australian Open titles, Djokovic has hardly put a foot wrong barring a small scare in his opener against Tomas Machac.

In a contest where the players put their early season win streaks on the line, it was Rotterdam and Doha champion Medvedev who drew first blood by breaking an error-prone Djokovic twice and closed out the first set with a searing forehand. Daniil Medvedev (27) handed Novak Djokovic (35) his first defeat of the year, beating the world number one 6-4 6-4 on Friday to reach the Dubai Tennis Championships final where he plays holder Andrey Rublev for a third title in as many weeks.

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