Daniil Medvedev loses to Novak Djokovic and withdraws from Zhuhai

• Tennis News
• ATP Tennis

Men's tennis will return to China for the first time in four years next week, with two ATP 250 events in Zhuhai and Chengdu. World no. 3 Daniil Medvedev should have been the top seed in Zhuhai, but he withdrew, needing more time to recover following a demanding US Open campaign.

Daniil lost the US Open final to Novak Djokovic, giving everything but falling 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in three hours and 16 minutes. The Russian required a medical timeout after the second set, treating his left shoulder and losing serve two times in the third to end on the losing side for the fourth time in five Major finals.

Medvedev pushed Djokovic to the limits, especially in the second set, which lasted an hour and 45 minutes! The Russian squandered a set point on the return in the 12th game, dropping the tie break and losing ground in set number three.

Daniil Medvedev will not compete in Zhuhai.

Novak served well in the opener, delivering an early break and taking charge in his 36th Major final. Djokovic grabbed a break at love in the encounter's second game and moved 3-0 up in no time.

Medvedev served to stay in the set at 2-5 and faced two set points. The Russian denied them and prolonged the action before the Serb held at 15 in the next one for 6-3 after 48 minutes. The second set brought one of the most extended sets in the US Open finals, with two rivals battling against each other for an hour and 45 minutes!

Novak denied a set point in the 12th game, playing brave tennis and rushing to the net to break the rival's rhythm and patterns. Daniil led 3-1 before Novak climbed back, stealing the breaker 7-5 after the rival's backhand error and gaining a massive confidence boost after two and a half hours of a titanic battle.

Djokovic served well at the start of the third set, securing a break in game four and opening a 3-1 advantage after Medvedev's wayward backhand. The Russian pulled it back in the next one, fighting like a lion and seeking a comeback after his only successful return game.

Novak stayed composed and broke his rival for the second straight time in the sixth game, opening a 4-2 gap and moving closer to the finish line. Djokovic served for his 24th Major crown in game nine and held after Medvedev's forehand error, celebrating another magical moment of his glorious career.