Daniil Medvedev Defeats Alex de Minaur at ATP Finals

Daniil Medvedev rebounded from a disappointing straight-set loss to Taylor Fritz at the ATP Finals, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-4 to maintain his hopes of advancing in the tournament. Medvedev's earlier match was marked by frustration, including racket-smashing, but he adopted a more composed approach against De Minaur, not facing any break points. After his victory, he famously wrote 'block the noise' on a camera lens and performed a celebratory gesture by covering his ears with his fingers, explaining it was a strategy to focus and ignore external distractions. He emphasized the challenges of dealing with both praise and criticism as a high-profile athlete, noting that it is essential to remain centered amid fluctuating public perception. Medvedev's next match will be against Jannik Sinner, while De Minaur's chances of advancing are slim after losing both of his opening matches. The tournament format allows the top two players from each group to progress to the semifinals.