Agut rules Chennai: Experienced Spaniard shows his class against Russian Medvedev in one-sided ATP final

The win gave Agut his fifth title on Tour and left Medvedev richer with experience of playing in tough matches. The difference between the two players was the experience and Agut’s composure was the key.

Agut started well by holding his first service game and had three break point opportunities in the fifth game and showed the slightest of change in emotions when he missed the first but was quick to get back to concentrate and induce Medvedev into an unforced error to take the game and gain advantage. 

Once he was in the driving seat, it was tough to stop the Spaniard. He placed his shots well on the cross-court and upped the ante on his base line play. His shots were packed with venom and Agut shifted gears with ease to execute drop shots and take volleys with perfection. 

Medvedv showed why he would be a player to watch for in the future. He fired in more aces than Agut and his overhead smashes were well-timed. He came to the net sparingly than Agut and with the Spaniard leaving no room for error, the Russian found the going tough. 

Agut, with a break ahead, served for the first set in the ninth game and finished off with a thunderous ace. Medvedev, who saved a match point in the last game against Dudi Sela, looked to get back in fine touch when he improved his first serve but Agut went better as the game progressed and it was tough for Medvedev to catch on.

The Spaniard went flat and kept attacking Medvedev’s backhand and timed his forehand winners with ease as the Russian was found wanting in speed. Agut gave an opening for Medvedev in the fourth game of the second set when he double-faulted to get on 40-40, but the Russian couldn’t time his next couple of shots and hit it beyond the baseline as Agut held serve. 

It looked like Medvedev latched on to the momentum in the second set as he got a tad better with his shots but a double fault in the ninth game did him in. Agut went up at 30-40 and then produced a stupendous backhand winner to break the Russian’s serve for the second time in the match to move to 5-4 and served for the championship with ease.