Daniil Medvedev wins the Hangzhou Open title as prosperous form against Andrey Rublev prolongs

Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 15:22

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.

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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.

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