Daniil Medvedev dedicates Vienna title to his wife: ‘She gave me the most beautiful gift- my daughter’

ATP Tour
Daniil Medvedev pleased

Daniil Medvedev had to produce his best performance of the week to get the better of Denis Shapovalov in the final of the Vienna Open and afterwards he dedicated his title to his wife after she gave birth to their first child.

The top seed had been in cruise control for much of the week in Austria as he reached the final on the back of four straight-set wins, but he found himself up against on Sunday.

Shapovalov was quick out of the blocks as he took the opening set, but Medvedev bounced back and found his A-game to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in two hours and 18 minutes.

The Canadian broke in games three and five to go 4-1 up although Medvedev got a look back into the set when he claimed one break back in game six. Shapovalov, though, served it out.

The 2021 US Open winner then edged ahead in game four of the second set before he had to save four break points in the next game. Shapovalov eventually broke back in game seven only for the Russian to break again, this time to love in game eight, and take it to a decider.

It was all Medvedev in the third set as he raced into a 4-1 lead with two breaks. Shapovalov saved three match points in game seven and three more on the Russian’s serve in the next game, but it was seventh time lucky for Medvedev.

“I’m gonna dedicate [this title] to my wife because she gave me the most beautiful present ever – my daughter,” the former world No 1, who became a father earlier this month, said in his victory speech.

“I was there and these emotions are much more than winning any title.”

He added: “I am really happy. This match was the best of the week because Denis was really playing unreal until probably 4-3 in the second set.

“He dropped his level by maybe two per cent and I was able to use it. This is one of the best victories when you know your opponent is on top of you, but you try and stay there and do what you can.”

The title was Medvedev’s second this year after the Los Cabos Open in August and his 15th overall. Next up is the Paris Masters, where he finished runner-up last year, before he heads to Turin for the ATP Finals.

Shapovalov, meanwhile, is still searching for his second ATP Tour title with his one and only trophy to date coming at the Stockholm Open in October 2019.

READ MORE: ‘Cold’ Daniil Medvedev jokes that the birth of his daughter showed he can be ‘a sensitive person’

Daniil Medvedev Denis Shapovalov

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