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Medvedev reaches the final!
Medvedev on the brink
The Russian is a game away after pounding a forehand for a winner. Nadal serves to stay in the semifinals.
Medvedev breaks!
First blood to the fourth seed in this final set as puts away an overhead on his third break chance of the game. He's two holds away from the biggest win of his career.
Medvedev evens things up
A bit of a let-off for the fourth seed as Nadal missed on a forehand at deuce. A point later, Medvedev holds.
Nadal stays in front
What a match this is turning into. Nadal pulls off a great serve-and-volley point to get to 30-30 and blisters a backhand. Eventually, a drop shot and unreturned serve get the job done.
Medvedev pulls through game
A bit of a shaky game there as the Russian misses on a forehand but catches a break when Nadal misses on one of his own and he proceeds to even things up once again.
Nadal continues to stay out in front
The slice has been paying dividends for Nadal and he used that and some more big serving to hold.
Medvedev answers
The Russian breezes through his service game, holding to love.
Nadal holds to open the third set
And a quite battling hold at that. Big serve-forehand combo gets the Spaniard to deuce and some huge serves give him the opening game of the final set.
Medvedev levels the match!
The difference in the breaker was a mishit lob by Medvedev at 4-3 up and he closed out the set with a crushing backhand to send this semifinal to a decider.
Off to a tiebreaker
The tow-time finalist does his job and this set, and perhaps the match, will be decided in a tiebreak.
Medvedev a game away
A quickfire hold capped off by a serve-and-volley point from the Russian.
Medvedev breaks!
And to love at that. Game on again.
Nadal breaks again!
What a turnaround! A backhand error from Medvedev brings up break point and a delicate backhand lob over the Russian's head gives Nadal a chance to serve for a spot in the final.
Nadal roaring back
Just when it looked like a third set was on the cards, Nadal has drawn level.
Nadal breaks back!
That missed chance may indeed have cost the Russian as Nadal blasts a forehand to get back on serve on his second chance of the game.
Nadal survives
Could that be the turning point? Medvedev had a break point for 5-1, but a great backhand erased that chance and some unreturned serves get Nadal through that game.
Medvedev closing in on the set
The backhand is getting the job done for the fourth seed now.
Nadal on the board
The easiest hold of the day for the 20-time major champion.
Medvedev breezing now
It's all coming easy for Medvedev now as he closes that game off at the net.
Medvedev breaks!
Well, well, well. Nadal misfires on a forehand and then double faults on break point. Exactly the start the Russian needed to this set.
Medvedev holds
A hold to love for the Russian to open the second set. Exactly what he needed after that disappointing end to the first set.
Nadal takes the lead!
He showed a little bit of everything in that game: at 15-30, an unreturnable serve, at 30-30 another exquisite serve-and-volley point and on set point, a bruising forehand winner. He's looked very sharp so far and is halfway to the final.
Nadal breaks!
The forehand for Rafa is cooking and on triple break point, Medvedev misses on his own forehand. Nadal to serve for the set.
Nadal with an easy hold
The crosscourt forehand is starting to dial in for Nadal and if he gets that going, watch out.
Another strong hold for Medvedev
It's all too easy for Daniil on serve right now.
Nadal digs out of trouble
At 15-30, Medvedev commits an error followed by a lovely drop volley from Nadal and another error from the fourth seed as the Spaniard stays out in front.
Another strong hold for Medvedev
The Russian is playing at his preferred quick tempo and he holds easily again.
Nadal comes through marathon game
One area of Nadal's game that coach Carlos Moya has greatly improved is his serve and it showed here as he saves three break points, all with big, unreturnable deliveries that gets him through the game.
Medvedev with an easy hold
The Russian with an easy hold to 15.
Nadal holds to begin the match
A good service game for Rafa to open the match. He gets through the game holding to 30.
How to watch Medvedev vs Nadal Live
Head-to-head
They first met in the Canadian Open final in 2019 with Nadal losing just three games. They played a classic five-setter in the US Open final and a round robin match here last year in which the Spaniard came from 5-1 down in the third set to post a stunning victory.
Nadal reaches last four after final group stage victory
Medvedev breezes into semifinals
Welcome!
My name is John Lupo and I'll be your host for this blockbuster clash as the Russian and Spaniard play for a spot in the final.
That was a brilliant turnaround from the Russian, who seemed down and out after falling behind 6-3, 5-4, but he steadied himself with some huge serving and authoritative hitting off the ground, especially on the backhand side. A fully deserved spot in the final.
You feel for Nadal as he may have seen his best chance at finally capturing the year-end championship slip through his fingers, but there were many encouraging signs this week, particularly on serve. He'll rest now and get ready for what promises to be another marvelous year in 2021.
So that's all from me for now. Stay with VAVEL for continuing coverage of the Nitto ATP Finals as Daniil Medvedev faces Dominic Thiem for the championship. We'll have full coverage of the title match from 1pm Eastern time tomorrow. Until then, this is John Lupo saying so long and taake care for now.