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 court against the man who will become the world number 2 tomorrow: Daniil Medvedev.
So yes, of course, Daniil Medvedev is ultra, mega, super 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 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 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 the 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, under 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 3 hour and 54 minute battle in five sets and 7-5 in the fifth.
The two are therefore 1-1 in their head-to-heads. Except that we did some digging and found a match from 2015 between the two men, in the 2nd round of the qualifiers at the Provence Open 13. The Frenchman outclassed the Russian 6-4 6-3 that day. So, 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!
