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Daniil Medvedev and Dominic Thiem were among the world's best players four years ago. While the Russian is still there, the Austrian has struggled to regain his old form following a nasty wrist injury. Daniil and Dominic met in the 2019 Montreal quarter-final, and the younger player secured a dominant 6-3, 6-1 triumph in 57 minutes!
Medvedev played at a high level that summer. The Russian reached four consecutive finals during the North American hard-court swing, winning one title. Daniil lost a tight title clash in Washington to Nick Kyrgios and gathered momentum ahead of Montreal.
Medvedev lost 13 games in the first three encounters in Canada and reached the second Masters 1000 semi-final after Monte Carlo thanks to a rock-solid display versus Thiem. Medvedev won just four games against Thiem a few months earlier in Barcelona.
He avenged that defeat in Montreal with interest, remaining on the title course. Dominic won the title in Kitzbuhel the previous week and could not quickly shift toward a different surface on another continent. The Austrian beat Denis Shapovalov and Marin Cilic but lost all the energy ahead of the encounter with an in-form Russian.
It was all about Daniil, who hit 18 winners and eight unforced errors, leaving pale opponent on a 9-21 ratio. The Austrian left the court grimaced, playing miles below his best. The Russian lost seven points on serve and stole half on the return.
He dominated the quickest and more extended rallies, imposing his shots and forging the advantage with four breaks from nine opportunities.
Daniil Medvedev stormed over Dominic Thiem in Montreal 2019.
Dominic lost serve in the encounter's first game when his backhand slice landed long, finding himself 2-0 down after Medvedev's hold at love.
Thiem held at 15 in game three to get his name on the scoreboard. Still, he could not deal with Daniil's powerful serves, as the Russian opened a 3-1 advantage. Working hard to stay in touch, Thiem grabbed a couple of games on his serve before sending a forehand wide at 3-5 to hand the opener to his opponent after 29 minutes.
Daniil brought the second set's first game home with a lucky net cord forehand winner and earned a break at love in the next one following Thiem's double fault. Another forehand winner pushed Daniil 3-0 in front, delivering a break in game four to extend the advantage.
The Russian held at 15 with a perfect drop shot to move 5-0 up and closer to the finish line, winning twice as many points as Dominic! Serving in game six to avoid a bagel, Thiem saved a match point after Medvedev's backhand error and brought it home with a smash winner.
Serving at 5-1, Daniil landed an ace down the T line to seal the deal in style, racing into the semi-final and setting an all-Russian clash with Karen Khachanov.