Andrey Rublev, number seven in the world, defeated his compatriot Daniil Medvédev this Monday with partial scores of 6-4, 2-6 and 7-6(4).place five in the ATP, in an exhibition match held at the Plaza de Toros México.
Both participated in the Indian Wells Masters, which took place in California, United States, and ended on Sunday; Medvedev lost in the final of that tournament against Carlos Alcaraz; Rublev fell in the second round against British Cameron Norrie.
In the first set of the match held in the arena of the Mexican capital on the hard court, the fatigue for the final was played 24 hours before weighing in with Medvedev, who rushed his first serve. Rublev prevailed 6-4 thanks to breaks he got in the fourth, sixth and tenth games.
The world number five improved in the second set, breaking serve in the first game and on a fantasy play at the net he went up 2-0. Advantage he extended to 4-1 with a break in the fifth and sealed his serve to win 6-2.
Andrey dominated again in the third set with his serve; took a breakthrough lead in game six 4-2. Daniil responded in seven with a couple of drop shots that helped him on the break that tightened his sleeve; a game later he leveled at 4-4 on his serve.
In the end, the contenders offered long exchanges from the bottom of the court that led them to 6-6 to determine the set with a tie break, with Rublev winning, 7-4.
Prior to this exhibition, Medvedev had played in four consecutive finals in 2022; he won in Rotterdam, Doha and Duabi (he beat Rublev there); lost in Indian Wells.
In the preliminary duel of the Tennis Showdown, Colombians Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah, number one couple in the world in 2019, defeated locals Santiago González and Manuel Sánchez in a match tie break 10-8.
On previous occasions, the Plaza de Toros México has hosted tennis stars in exhibition games. In 2020, Swiss Roger Federer beat German Alexander Zverev in front of 42,000 spectators.
In December of last year, the legend, the Spanish Rafael Nadal, said goodbye as a professional in front of Mexican fans in an exhibition where he defeated the Norwegian Casper Ruud.
Source: La Verdad
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