TURIN -- Daniil Medvedev swept past Andrey Rublev 6-4 6-2 at their ATP Finals clash in the Red Group, while Alexander Zverev overcame world number two Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4.
Russian friends Medvedev and Rublev were destined for another epic showdown after meeting in the Dubai Open final and US Open quarter-finals, with world number three Medvedev winning both matches.
However, Rublev, ranked fifth in the world, began to despair after losing the first set and failing to put up much of a fight in the second.
Earlier on Monday, Zverev came from a set down to beat a sluggish Alcaraz after two hours and 32 minutes in their opener.
The seventh-ranked German is making his sixth appearance at the event, having won the title in Turin in 2021 and London in 2018.
Zverev, who missed last year’s edition due to a right ankle injury suffered during his Roland Garros semi-final against Rafael Nadal, fell when he hit a forehand and hit his ankle.