Daniil Medvedev has added another piece of ATP silverware to
his growing collection. He came out on top in the Hangzhou Open final with a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline against
fellow Russian Andrey Rublev for his 24th ATP title and a 23rd
different city in the process.
It is the first time that the former US Open champion has prevailed
on Chinese soil since the 2019 Shanghai Masters, and a third ATP title of 2026
added to the Brisbane International and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Good friends away from the court, their competitive nature
was evident on court with the top two seeds in Hangzhou locking horns for the
title. Rublev was the most recent winner of the two, but it was Medvedev this
time round who continues his brilliant form against Rublev.
Rublev created just two break points all game, and they were
not taken. That is a recipe for disaster with Medvedev having more joy against
the serve. He left it late to seal the first set before what would be a
definitive blow at the start of the second set enough to hold off his rival and
to kick off his Asian swing with a bang.
Medvedev kicks off Asian swing with title triumph
The first set was very closely contested between the two Russians.
The head-to-head record favoured Medvedev heavily, and he was on the front foot.
Three break point opportunities were created in the space of a few games, but
Rublev stayed firm and slammed the door shut.
Medvedev levelled at 3-3 before Rublev got back to the
basics on serve with a hold to love. With the score tied level, a tiebreak
seemed imminent. The last time that occurred between these two was back in the
2022 ATP Finals, Rublev’s most recent win over his good friend.
He would not have another chance to play one. Medvedev created
another break point opportunity and this time converted to lead for the first
time. He backed it up with a hold and took a giant stride towards the title.
It went from bad to worse for Rublev who was starting to
show signs of frustration that many tennis fans are accustomed to. Medvedev
made it four games on the spin by breaking to get the second set underway,
backed up with a sturdy hold.
Read also
Rublev finally got his first break points to level at 3-3. Both
were defended by the former World No.1 who in turn moved two games away from the
title. It was a massive blow for the 28-year-old who was starting to see his
title prospects fade away.
For Medvedev, it was all about holding serve for the rest of the match and keeping his opponent at arm's length. That was completed successfully, serving it out with little faff to become the latest title winner in Hangzhou. Both players will remain in China, travelling to the capital to take part in the China Open starting tomorrow.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Either Lena has a chronic internal ailment (i.e., colitis, enteritis, Crohn's, or some type of lower abdomen issue) -- or she is once again dealing with 'Vukovitis'. Mental stress can indeed cause lower body pains. No matter... whatever is truly going on sucks. "Virus" excuse is getting a bit old -- and often -- at this point.
mandoist09-11-2026 - Ironically, Martina became a U.S. Citizen about the same time as the Orange Convicted Felon & Abuser was just beginning on his road to losing all Daddy's Millions!!mandoist09-11-2026
- "Another fresh start is in the cards." Thanks for the Humor!! I'm guessing this is the minimum one can do to keep all your sponsors hanging-on in perpetuity?mandoist09-11-2026
- Vukov is doing this to Lena... AGAIN!!!!! WTA's autonomous collective should be dismantled for allowing Vukov to re-emerge from his hand-slapping suspension. Just ask WTA employees how that's been going lately as they witness his continued verbal abuses. Women's Pro Tennis should start over.mandoist08-11-2026
- Can't help but suspect Vukov is back to his old self again. Thank you, WTA. Perhaps you can give them a "Battling Couple of the Year Award 2026" ??mandoist08-11-2026
- Wtf? Why is there no reason? And what about the men's?Bel08-11-2026
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.mandoist06-11-2026
- Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
