ATP Finals 2022: Daniil Medvedev vs. Andrey Rublev Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2022 Nitto ATP Finals as Daniil Medvedev takes on Andrey Rublev in the Group Stage on Monday, November 14th, 2022.

Will Daniil Medvedev extend his dominance over Andrey Rublev? Rublev won their last meeting last year, but faces a refreshed countryman in their group opener at the Nitto ATP Finals. Who will prevail?

Daniil Medvedev was not going to name names on who is the favorite for the title at the Nitto ATP Finals when he was candidly asked. The Russian does have a point. Only the eight best players have converged at one tournament and bar Novak Djokovic, there has been at a least one first time winner in the last ten years. Medvedev can attest to that stat having won on London’s last staging in 2020 before being denied by Zverev in last year’s final. So in hindsight, every player has a chance. 2022 has not Medvedev’s best year by his own lofty standards. The Russian has won two titles, none greater than the ATP 500 he picked up in Vienna a few weeks ago. So he will be pumped to end his season on a high note.

Andrey Rublev is making his third appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals. The 25-year-old Russian has not advanced beyond the group stage in each of his last two participations. Rublev’s task of improving on that record got significantly harder after being paired in the same group as five-time champion Djokovic and countryman Daniil Medvedev who has dominated their rivalry.

Daniil Medvedev leads Andrey Rublev 5-1 in their head-to-head. In as much as Rublev has not come close to solve the Medvedev puzzle in their series, he did taste his first win over his compatriot at Cincinnati last year. Rublev, it could be argued, has enjoyed a more productive season than Medvedev, having won four ATP titles and registering 49 match wins across all levels. Medvedev’s short recovery time in Paris was the cause of his shock defeat at the hands of De Minaur. But I do expect him to show a lot more regulation and control in his game against Rublev.