MADRID/STARNBERG, December 2, 2021
In the last of this year’s Davis Cup by Rakuten quarterfinals, Russia beat Sweden 2-0 at the Madrid Arena on Thursday evening to reach the stage of the last four for the second consecutive season.
Andrey Rublev survived a huge scare against World No. 171 Elias Ymer to succeed 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) in the first singles rubber. The 24-year-old Russian withstood 12 aces and 27 winners and broke Ymer’s serve four times to prevail after two hours and 11 minutes.
Rublev SURVIVES 🤯@AndreyRublev97 fights off a superb effort from Elias Ymer 6-2 5-7 7-6(3) to put RTF in the lead against Sweden!#DavisCupFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/cQdTUq2n2N
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) December 2, 2021
“Today was a super tough match,” said Rublev after the match. “I didn’t manage to finish the match when I had a really great chance. I missed some easy balls and that bring him back to the game and since that moment he raised his level. He started to feel confident and he started to play much better and then it was 7-6 in the third.”
When asked about the pressure of playing a lower-ranked rival, the World No. 5 responded: “The guys have nothing to lose, so they go for it, they go for their shots and play without fear and in my case I know I have to win so you start to play less aggressive and you start to miss a bit more. You start to think more and as soon as you think more you have more problems. In the end I managed to win and that’s the most important thing.”
Medvedev in straight sets
Later in the evening, Daniil Medvedev clinched his team’s place in the semi-finals against Germany on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Mikael Ymer. The World No. 2 and reigning US Open champion converted five of his 10 break-point chances to secure victory in one hour and 13 minutes.
✅ Job done@DaniilMedwed puts RTF in back-to-back semi-finals, sweeping past Mikael Ymer 6-4 6-4.#DavisCupFinals #byRakuten pic.twitter.com/XCqHxXblAq
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) December 2, 2021
“Madrid feels like home, we’re winning a lot of matches,” said Medvedev. “It was a great boost of confidence to beat the home team [in the Group Stage]. We are winning a lot of matches, we didn’t lose a tie in the group. Saturday’s going to be my first semi-final, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
In the first semi-final tie on Friday Croatia will take on Serbia.
