In a rollercoaster semi-final marked by nerves, missed chances, and a surprise nosebleed, Daniil Medvedev held firm to defeat Alexander Zverev and book his place in the Halle Open final against defending champion Alexander Bublik.
Daniil Medvedev reminded the tennis world of his grit and guile on grass as he edged past Germany’s Alexander Zverev in a nerve-racking semi-final at the 2025 Halle Open. The Russian won 7-6(3), 6-7(1), 6-4 in just under three hours, overcoming a mid-match nosebleed, a resurgent opponent, and the pressure of three missed match points.
For Medvedev, this marks his first ATP final in over a year—a much-needed result after a quiet stretch by his high standards. But it was far from easy.
The match started tightly, with both players serving well and creating few chances. At 4-4 in the first set, Medvedev had to take a medical timeout for a spontaneous nosebleed, a rare sight in professional tennis. Unfazed, he returned to win the tiebreak 7-3.
The second set saw drama multiply. Medvedev served for the match at 5-4 and had three match points at 6-5, but Zverev, backed by the home crowd, dug deep to save all of them and force a tiebreak. The German dominated the breaker, taking it 7-1 to level the match.
But in the decider, Medvedev steadied. He broke early for a 2-1 lead and never looked back, showing great control and shot selection to close out the match 6-4.
“It was one of those matches where you feel like you’re winning, and then suddenly you’re not,” Medvedev said after the match. “I’m just proud I stayed composed in the third.”
Next up for the Russian is Alexander Bublik, who beat Karen Khachanov in three sets earlier in the day. Bublik, the 2023 champion in Halle, will be aiming to defend his crown and add another high-profile win after knocking out world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals.
The final promises contrast and fireworks: Medvedev’s baseline precision against Bublik’s unpredictability and big serving. For Medvedev, it’s a chance to lift his first title of the season. For Bublik, a shot at becoming a two-time Halle champion.
As grass-court tennis heats up ahead of Wimbledon, Sunday’s final will offer a compelling preview of what’s to come.
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