Daniil Medvedev crushes Alexander Zverev to extend fine form and win Shanghai Masters title

A fourth title of the season after a sixth successive final highlights the sort of season the Russian world No 4 is having

Tennis - Shanghai Masters - Men's Singles - Final - Qi Zhong Tennis Center, Shanghai, China - October 13, 2019. Daniil Medvedev of Russia in action against Alexander Zverev of Germany.  REUTERS/Aly Song
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Daniil Medvedev extended his remarkable run of form by clinching the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Alexander Zverev.

The win earned world No 4 Medvedev, who was competing in a sixth successive final, his fourth title of the season and second in a Masters 1000 event.

By beating Zverev, the 23-year-old Russian claimed his 59th ATP Tour match win of the year, which pulls him 11 wins clear of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Medvedev is now level with Nadal, Djokovic and Dominic Thiem for most titles won this season.

It was a trademark display from Medvedev, who never allowed Zverev to find any momentum. The US Open finalist got off to a flying start, limiting his German opponent to just three points in the first three games to open up a 3-0 lead.

Zverev did claw his way back into the opening set when he broke back for 3-2, but all his hard work was undone when serving at 5-4 down - a double fault at 30-40 handing the set to Medvedev.

It seemed as though the match turned on that very moment. Medvedev was finding all of his shots in the second set, and after earning successive breaks for a 5-0 lead, it was just a matter of time before the Russian put Zverev out of his misery.

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