Medvedev defends Almaty Open title to close in on ATP Finals

Top seed Daniil Medvedev shook off a first-set stumble to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7(6) 6-1 6-3 to defend his Almaty Open title on Sunday, picking up his fourth trophy on the ATP Tour this year.

The win was a boost for Medvedev’s hopes of securing his place early in the ATP Finals, which he won in 2020.

Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have already qualified for the tournament, while the injured Jannik Sinner will not feature in the eight-man season finale in Turin from Nov.15-22.

“I always said, it’s just a matter of luck, time, moment,” said Medvedev after the first successful title defence of his career.

“I was feeling fresh, I was feeling physically good... I’m happy to finally do it I guess,” the 30-year-old added with a smile.

Former US Open champion Medvedev saved two set points to force a tiebreak in the first set, but netted two attempted winners as qualifier Basilashvili, ranked 128th in the world, clinched the set with a powerful cross-court backhand.

The world number five regained control in the second set, forcing backhand rallies and pressuring an error-prone Basilashvili into shooting wide.

Georgian Basilashvili, playing in his first final on the tour since 2022, struggled with his nerves in the third set, netting a backhand drop shot to bring up Medvedev’s first match point, before shooting wide from the baseline to lose the match.

Medvedev is set to play in the Vienna Open starting on Monday, and the Paris Masters from Oct.31, as he looks to secure his place in Turin.

Rybakina claims Ningbo crown: Elena Rybakina blazed past unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final on Sunday to retain her title and lift her first trophy as the world number one ahead of the WTA Finals next month.

The victory in Ningbo also helped the Kazakh to take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season in which she won the Australian Open title before adding the US Open crown to reach the summit.

“It’s amazing to play in front of you... it’s my second year here and my second win,” Rybakina told the crowd in the eastern Chinese city after collecting a tour-leading fourth title of the season and 15th overall.

“It’s such a special place for me. Thanks so much Ningbo.”

Rybakina’s latest triumph is a timely lift after setbacks in Beijing and Wuhan, as she turns her attention to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before she launches her title defence at the season finale in Indian Wells, California, from Nov.8.

TRADEMARK POWER: Top seed Rybakina made the breakthrough with her trademark power in the fifth game and then unleashed a searing crosscourt backhand winner to go 4-2 up, before the 27-year-old wrapped up the opening set in 38 minutes.

World number 30 Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-times Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.

Reuters