On Friday, Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev played a match at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic in Hurlingham. The seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic defeated his good friend 6-3, 6-4 in 70 minutes, looking solid on the court only three weeks after undergoing a right knee procedure in Paris.
Novak withdrew from Roland Garros after two marathons on Court Philippe-Chatrier, feeling the pain in his knee and opting for surgery. The Serb is doing his best to recover for Wimbledon, entering the draw and hoping to practice without issues until his first-round duel on Tuesday.
The Serb lost serve once in the second set and stole the Russian's serve three times. Medvedev led 3-1 in set number two before Djokovic rattled off five of the next six games, sealing the deal in straight sets. World no. 2 made a promising start and held at love in the first game of the encounter with an ace.
Medvedev responded with a backhand winner in the second game, locking the result at 1-1.
Djokovic trailed 30-15 in the third game before taking the next three points, closing the game with a backhand down the line winner and opening a 2-1 gap.
Novak found the rhythm on the return in the fourth game, earning two break chances after a crafty winner at the net. Daniil erased them with powerful serves but faced the third break point after a backhand mistake. The seven-time Wimbledon champion painted a running forehand down the line winner, delivering a break and moving 3-1 in front.
Novak cemented the break with a forehand winner in game five, extending the gap in no time. Medvedev faced a break point in the sixth game, saving it with a forced error but playing against the second after hitting a double fault.
The Russian got out of jail with a service winner and closed the game with a winner at the net, remaining within one break deficit. Novak grabbed the seventh game with a crafty forehand crosscourt winner, forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set.
Novak Djokovic defeated Daniil Medvedev at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.
Daniil hit a double fault in the eighth game, handing Novak a set point.
Medvedev denied it with a powerful serve and fired two more winners to extend the battle. Djokovic served for the set at 5-3 and created a set point with an unreturned serve. The Russian saved it with a forehand down the line winner after an extended rally before the Serb seized the second set point for 6-3 and a boost.
Novak held at love in the second game of the second set after an ace before facing issues at 1-2 after Daniil's forehand down the line winner. Djokovic placed a backhand wide, losing serve at 15 and propelling his opponent 3-1 in front.
Medvedev hit a double fault on a game point in the next one and faced a break point after Djokovic's forehand down the line winner. Daniil saved it with a backhand winner but encountered another break point after Novak's forehand down the line return winner.
The Russian saved it with a service winner before spraying another double fault, unable to take the game home. Medvedev erased a break point with an ace down the T line, hoping to win two more points and close the game.
Instead, he offered Djokovic the fourth break point after a backhand error. Daniil placed a forehand long, getting broken and bringing Novak back to the positive side. Djokovic grabbed the sixth game with a service winner, leveling the score at 3-3 and gaining a boost.
Medvedev lost the ground in those moments, spraying a forehand mistake and facing a break point in game seven. He denied it with a reliable forehand attack and wrapped up the game with a forced error for a 4-3 advantage.
Novak left that opportunity behind and held at love in game eight with an unreturned serve, leveling the score at 4-4 and sending the pressure to the other side.
Medvedev felt it in game nine, missing a forehand and playing against three break points. Djokovic missed a lob on the first but did not have to do anything on the third, welcoming another double fault from his rival and delivering a crucial break that pushed him 5-4 in front.
Novak served for victory in game ten and created three match points. The seven-time Wimbledon winner seized the first with a crafty volley winner at the net, sealing the deal and beating his great friend. Djokovic will not have to work hard in the opening couple of rounds at the All England Club, facing the lower-ranked opponents.
It should give him more time to rest his knee and prepare it for the challenging duels of the second week, chasing the record-equalling eighth Wimbledon trophy.
