If, at the beginning of the week, we had announced that Pierre-Hugues Herbert would play in the final of the Open 13 Provence 2021, knowing that Tsitsipas, Khachanov, Nishikori, Sinner, Tsonga, Lopez etc. were in the draw, we would have been called crazy. And yet, it is the Alsatian who will be on the court against the man who will become the world's number 2 tomorrow: Daniil Medvedev.
So yes, of course, Daniil Medvedev is ultra, mega, supra favourite to win this final. If he were to win, it would be his 10th title. For the record, when Daniil Medvedev is in the final, he has a 56% chance of winning. Herbert, on the other hand, has lost three finals out of three and is therefore currently at 0 %. Yes, but...
As we told you earlier this week, the outcome of a sports match is "unknowable". For example, let's take, at random, the Herbert-Tsitsipas quarter-final. How many of you would have bet your sesterces on the fact that Pierre-Hugues would send Tsitsipas back to Athens? There are some, for sure, but not sure if they are the biggest tennis connoisseurs. This result was unpredictable.
So is Herbert - Medvedev. The magic of the cup!
But what do we know about this poster? It has already taken place twice in the final tables. In 2018, Daniil Medvedev beat Herbert in three sets in Rotterdam, in similar conditions. In 2019, they played each other in the first round of the French Open. This time, it was P2H who left the court with a smile on his face, after a 3h54 battle in 5 sets and 7-5 in the 5th.
So the two are 1-1 in their head-to-heads. Except that we dug around and found a match from 2015 that was played between the two men in the 2nd round of qualifying at the Provence Open 13. That day, the Frenchman had outclassed the Russian 6-4 6-3. Well then, okay, Medvedev was ranked 646 places lower in the world pyramid at the time. That is, almost at the very bottom. And today, he is at the top...
So Medvedev, Herbert? Herbert, Medvedev? One thing is certain: the name that will be engraved on the Open 13 Provence cup will be there for the first time. Whatever happens, the tournament will add a 21st name to its list of honours. And whatever happens, it will be a beautiful champion!
