World no. 6 Daniil Medvedev experienced another blow in Dubai. The former champion wasted four match points versus Tallon Griekspoor in the quarter-final and fell 2-6, 7-6, 7-5 in two hours and 36 minutes!
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The Russian argued with the chair umpire and lost his focus in the pivotal moments to leave another tournament without lifting a trophy. Tallon trailed 6-2, 3-1 but kept fighting. The Dutchman denied four match points on serve in games ten and 12.
Griekspoor prevailed in the tie break, standing two points away from defeat but prevailed 9-7. The lower-ranked player made the final push on the return at 6-5 in the decider and earned a high-profile win.
Daniil dominated the opening set and took nine points more than his opponent. World no. 6 saved five of seven break points, facing four in the final game of the duel! He took 37% of the return points and converted them into three breaks from 14 opportunities.
Griekspoor fought well when it mattered the most and booked his spot in the last four. Medvedev would have been a deserved winner as well! He landed 39 winners and 27 unforced errors, while forging a 37-21 lead in service winners.
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Tallon attacked and fired 42 winners and 49 unforced errors. He failed to match the rival's pace from the baseline but took a 38-13 advantage at the net after rushing forward over 50 times. The Russian served well in the opener and kept the pressure on the other side.
Griekspoor saved two break points in the fourthgame. However, Medvedev broke at love in the sixth game after the rival's volley mistake at the net. The Russian secured another break at 5-2 with a return winner, wrapping up the opener in 27 minutes.
World no. 6 saved break points at the beginning of the second set and converted the fifth break chance at 2-1 to open a set and a break advantage. Tallon responded in game six and landed a lob winner to pull the break back and lock the result at 3-3.
The Dutchman served to stay in the match at 4-5 and faced two match points. He denied them with crafty volleys and held for 5-5. Daniil generated two more match points at 6-5. Griekspoor attacked and saved them, holding and introducing a tie break.
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Daniil moved 4-1 up but lost the advantage. The Russian saved a set point at 5-6 and another at 6-7 with a lob winner. The Dutchman created the third set point with a service winner and seized it after the Russian's forehand error, prevailing and introducing a decider after an hour and 40 minutes.
Medvedev received aa warning for unsportsmanlike conduct ahead of the decider but kept his composure. They served well, and Daniil landed a backhand crosscourt winner in game ten for 5-5 andmore drama. Tallon fired a service winner in the next one and moved 6-5 up.
World no. 6 served to stay in the match for the second time in game 12 and cracked under pressure. He saved two match points before squandering four gamepoints! Medvedev denied the third match point but faced the fourth after netting a challenging smash.
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The Russian missed a backhand, hitting the exit door and sending his rival over the top.
