Daniil Medvedev aiming to use breakthrough ATP Finals win as springboard to Grand Slam glory

Daniil Medvedev came from behind to beat Dominic Thiem and win the ATP Finals in London
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Daniil Medvedev is confident he can use his ATP Finals success as a springboard to Grand Slam titles in 2021.

The Russian defeated both Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic before coming back from a set down to beat Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final.

And Medvedev is confident he will not suffer the same fate as the past four winners of the end-of-season finale – Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas – who all struggled to attain the same level of tennis in the subsequent year. 

“It’s a great boost of confidence for all the Slams coming up and all the tournaments,” said Medvedev. “Hopefully I can continue this way. 

“It means a lot. [It] shows what I’m capable of when I’m playing good, when I’m feeling good mentally, physically. I know what I’m capable of. I just need to produce it more and more, and hopefully more matches like this.” 

The event in London – the 12th and final edition to be held in the capital before relocating to Turin next year – has often proved to be a false barometer of the shifting order in men’s tennis. 

But both Nadal and Djokovic had come into the event fresh, unlike perhaps in past years, and both were beaten by better players in their respective semi-finals - Thiem in the case of Djokovic and Medvedev proving the Spaniard’s vanquisher. 

Dominic Thiem believes there are exciting times ahead for men’s tennis
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Thiem admitted it would still be a battle to beat the big three with Roger Federer expected back from injury next season, but has still set his sights on the world No1 spot and toppling tennis’ long-term dominant forces.

“This year has been amazing,” he said. “I was playing great and had deep runs in many, many big tournaments. That’s what I want to do as well next year and, if I’m able to do that, I think I will also get chances to climb the rankings. 

“But everything’s so close. Rafa and Nole [Djokovic] are up there still, Roger is coming back next year. Guys like Dan and Sascha [Zverev], Stefano and also [Andrey] Rublev, there are I think six, seven guys who will fight for the top spots [in] the next years.

“We have proved that we can play with the legends, that we can also beat them, that we can also win the biggest tournaments. I think the next few years, the big three will still play for every big title. I think for tennis some exciting times are coming ahead.”  

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