In a significant early upset at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, Daniil Medvedev’s quest for a spot at the ATP Finals suffered a major blow as he succumbed to Corentin Moutet in the second round. The match unfolded in a fiercely competitive atmosphere, with Moutet showcasing his trademark shot variety and tactical ingenuity. The Frenchman managed to secure a tight first set before recovering from a lapse that saw him fail to serve out the match, ultimately closing it out with a score of 7-6(3), 6-4.
Moutet reflected on his performance, expressing satisfaction despite the challenges he faced due to travel and fatigue from the recent final against Medvedev at the Almaty Open. “It was hard to come from Almaty to here. It was a long travel, jet lag, and we did a big match in the final, so it was hard to recover,” he stated. His win is particularly poignant given that Medvedev had triumphed over him just days earlier in Kazakhstan.
This loss puts Medvedev in a precarious position as he attempts to qualify for the prestigious ATP Finals in Turin. He now trails behind Lorenzo Musetti, who continues to solidify his own position in the rankings by advancing to the quarter-finals in Vienna after defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-4. The Italian has yet to drop a set throughout the tournament, bolstering his hopes for a debut appearance at the season-ending championships.
Musetti’s next challenge will be against Moutet, creating a fascinating dynamic where Moutet has the potential to hinder Musetti’s efforts to further distance himself from Medvedev in the rankings.
In other notable matches, Alexander Zverev notched his 50th victory of the season by overcoming Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4. This victory marks Zverev’s fifth quarter-final appearance at the Vienna event and positions him fourth in the Race to Turin. The former champion is on the brink of securing his place at the ATP Finals for the eighth time, with only Carlos Alcaraz achieving more quarter-final exits this season.
Zverev’s next opponent will be Tallon Griekspoor, who advanced after a tense battle against Brandon Nakashima, winning in straight sets 7-6(4), 7-6(2).
Earlier in the day, Matteo Berrettini put forth a grueling performance against Britain’s Cameron Norrie, emerging victorious after three hours and 16 minutes with a score of 7-6(6), 6-7(9), 6-4. The Italian will now face Alex de Minaur, the third seed, in what promises to be a thrilling quarter-final encounter.
Alexander Bublik also secured his place in the quarter-finals, defeating Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 6-2, after showcasing staunch defense by saving all six break points he faced. Bublik will challenge top seed Jannik Sinner, who continued his excellent form by dispatching Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-6(4).
Sinner expressed his anticipation for facing Bublik, highlighting the prowess of his opponent while acknowledging the significance of each match in this competitive season. As the tournament progresses, the stakes grow higher, with players continuing to jockey for positions in the elite end-of-season event in Turin.
