Zverev seals semi-final spot, Nadal out despite win

[November 16, 2019]    LONDON (Reuters) - Defending champion Alexander Zverev reached the last four at the ATP Finals with a 6-4 7-6(4) defeat of Russian debutant Daniil Medvedev on Friday and consigned Rafael Nadal to an early exit at the same time.

Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts during his group stage match against Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas Action Images via Reuters/Tony O'Brien

The 22-year-old German served superbly throughout and held his nerve in the second-set tiebreak to notch a second group victory to claim second spot ahead of world number one Nadal.

Spaniard Nadal had earlier beaten group winner Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 in a near three-hour battle to keep his hopes alive but needed Medvedev to do him a favor by beating Zverev.

Medvedev, 23, dropped his opening service game and never made much of an impression on his opponent's serve.

He double-faulted at 3-4 in the tiebreak to give Zverev a two-point lead and Zverev finished it off with an ace.

While it was a great night for Zverev it was disappointing for those who had hoped to see a Nadal versus Roger Federer semi-final on Saturday.

Greek debutant Tsitsipas will face six-time champion Federer while Zverev will face Austrian Dominic Thiem.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.