Medvedev's Serve Carries Him Past Rublev to Hangzhou Title

Daniil Medvedev celebrates after defeating Andrey Rublev to win the Hangzhou Open.

Daniil Medvedev beat fellow Russian Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-4 to win the Hangzhou Open and strengthen his bid to return to the ATP Finals. The top seed used 23 aces and conceded only two double faults during a 93-minute final to claim his third title of the season.

Medvedev's serve controlled the match from the opening games. Rublev was unable to create a break point, while Medvedev converted the opportunities that appeared in the two sets.

The first set stayed level until Medvedev secured the break that carried him to a 7-5 finish. He then continued to protect his service games in the second set before completing the 6-4 victory.

The Hangzhou title is the 30-year-old's 24th career tour-level trophy and his 22nd on hard courts. His other titles this season came in Brisbane and Dubai. The Hangzhou win adds another hard-court trophy to that campaign.

Medvedev's performance also keeps him well placed in the race for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. He is seeking a return to the event after missing the previous edition.

Rublev reached the final after beating Frenchman Hugo Gaston in three sets in the semi-finals. The second seed could not match Medvedev's service numbers in the championship match.

Medvedev had entered the final after defeating Hong Kong's Coleman Wong in the last four. The top seed then completed the week without allowing Rublev to earn a break opportunity. That control gave Medvedev the platform to attack the second seed's service games without exposing his own serve.

The all-Russian final was settled by the difference on serve. Medvedev finished with 23 aces, compared with two double faults, and never faced a break point. Medvedev's 23 aces kept points short and protected his delivery, while his two double faults limited the free points offered to Rublev.

Medvedev's victory closes his Hangzhou campaign with another hard-court title and a significant addition to his ATP Finals qualification push. Rublev finished runner-up after being unable to break the top seed's serve during the final