Medvedev sees off Monfils in Sofia semis

Published by Reuters / Tennismash

Daniil Medvedev is closing in on a fourth ATP title; Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev produces a relentless display to deny Frenchman Gael Monfils an appearance in the Sofia Open final.

Big-hitting Daniil Medvedev stole the show at the Sofia Open as he punched his way to an emphatic 6-2 6-4 victory over former world No.6 Gael Monfils to set up a decider with Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

The Russian delighted the crowd in Arena Armeets with a barrage of sizzling winners as he broke twice in the first five games and never took his foot off the pedal to clinch the opening set on Saturday.

The Frenchman put up more of a fight in the second and even managed to break to love in the eighth game.

But the 22-year-old Medvedev, hauling his giant 1.96 metre frame around the court, kept his composure to seal the win on his first match point.

“I want to win. Every tournament I play I want to win,” said Medvedev.

“So to be in the final means I’m one step away from it. You never know what’s going to happen, I could have lost in the first round [since] I lost the first set [of that match].

“I’m happy with my performance and happy with my game right now.”

World No.47 Fucsovics battled past Italian giant-killer Matteo Berrettini 5-7 7-5 6-3 to progress to his second ATP final.

The Italian outclassed top seed Karen Khachanov and Fernando Verdasco in a sparkling week in the Bulgarian capital but his energy went down in the third set.

The 27-year-old Hungarian, who won his maiden ATP title in Geneva last year, recovered well after surrendering the gruelling first set to secure his place in the final.

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