Each time Zverev had their Monte Carlo match in hand, Daniil Medvedev reminded himself one second can change everything

Alexander Zverev could only smile when Daniil Medvedev double-faulted at 4-4, 30-40 in the second set of their third-round contest on Wednesday evening in Monte Carlo. For one, their first meeting on clay in their 14-match history was now on his racquet; and two, Medvedev took the liberty to remove one of the singles sticks on his side of the court.

“It didn’t break, it’s fine,” chair umpire Carlos Bernardes was heard saying after getting down to reset it.

Yet by the end of the night, it was Medvedev who proved unbreakable after surviving a three-plus hour battle where his back was pinned against the wall on numerous occasions. The No. 3 seed saved two match points to prevail, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), improving his stretch of play since February to a sparkling 26-1 mark.

Zverev served for the match twice, at 5-4 in the second and third sets. His two chances to officially close the door came in the decisive breaker.

A look at what happened when the victory was in sight for the German and how Medvedev walked away with the final word:

Set 2: Zverev serves leading 6-3, 5-4:

• 0-0: The No. 13 seed’s forehand drop shot is poorly executed, and Medvedev’s crosscourt backhand response draws a netted error.
• 0-15: Medvedev ramps up against a tentative Zverev in an extended rally, eventually closing the point at net with backhand drop volley winner.
• 0-30: Zverev finds a deep first serve that doesn’t come back in play.
• 15-30: A solid crosscourt defensive shot from Medvedev, who was pushed to the forehand corner, is mishandled by Zverev. His late swing results in pushing a forehand up the line wide.
• 15-40: Medvedev wins a 21-shot rally, as a passive Zverev, whose forehands continually landed in the front half of the court, breaks down with a long backhand.

Set 3: Zverev serves leading 6-3, 5-7, 5-4:

• 0-0: A grueling exchange goes Medvedev’s way when a Zverev forehand sails long.
• 0-15: Zverev double faults.
• 0-30: An overcooked forehand by Zverev hands the No. 3 seed three break points.
• 0-40: Zverev nets a backhand up the line to see a second opportunity to serve it out fall apart.

Decisive tiebreaker—final stretch

• 5-2 Medvedev: With Medvedev two points away from winning, Zverev’s variety came to life. Confident forehand hitting set up a chance to bring Medvedev in with a dropper. Zverev read the opposition’s response to finish with a backhand slice winner into the open court.
• 5-3 Medvedev: On the defensive, Zverev dipped a backhand slice to the net-rushing Medvedev. Though a tough backhand volley was made, it left Zverev plenty of options—and he pulled out a sublime forehand lob winner to get back on serve.
• 5-4 Medvedev: Zverev stays aggressive, and more importantly, patient, to get himself an eventual finishing volley touch.
• 5-5: A routine forehand from Medvedev finds the middle of the net to finally bring up the first match point of the duel.
• 6-5 Zverev: The German pushes a tight backhand return well long.
• 6-6: Medvedev’s backhand drop shot kisses the net, but comes back to land on his side.
• 7-6 Zverev: Midway through the rally, Medvedev decides to turn up the heat with a backhand redirection, and his forehand crosscourt that followed seconds later proved enough of a blow to end the point.
• 7-7: Zverev takes Medvedev’s forehand crosscourt up the line, and can’t find the court.
• 8-7 Medvedev: Now facing match point, Zverev is unable to handle a timely first serve out wide.

“I tried to watch a lot of tennis before playing in this tournament. Everything I saw is that you can come back at any moment, serve doesn’t count as much. So as soon as someone gets a little bit tight, the match can turn around in one second. And that’s what I managed to do. A crazy, crazy match.”

Remarkably, the three-set escape clinched Medvedev’s first over a Top 20 opponent on clay in nearly four years (2019 Barcelona semifinals, defeated No. 7 Kei Nishikori). He’ll have an opportunity to add another one against No. 9-ranked Holger Rune come Friday.

“He’s an amazing player. We practiced a lot on clay,” shared Medvedev. “I don’t think I ever won a set. But I was playing good today, so I hope to show this good tennis tomorrow.”

Medvedev and Rune are set to square off for the first time, with the winner advancing to face the victor of an all-Italian battle between Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.