Ahead of the final of the 2026 Hangzhou Open, tennis fans knew they were likely to get an entertaining match between two players who approach matches differently but have a lot of history against one another. Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev were longtime friends who had played each other professionally nine times.
Medvedev, the more accomplished player, had won seven of those meetings, but what was interesting was that the two had not met since 2023. That somewhat showed the different directions their careers have recently taken.
Medvedev was once No. 1 and is a Grand Slam winner. Rublev was once a staple in the top 10 of the ATP rankings. Since the beginning of 2024, Medvedev has only won three titles. Rublev had only won two in the last two years combined. One knew they were going to win the title in Hangzhou, though.
Daniil Medvedev defeats Andrey Rublev to win the 2026 Hangzhou Open
The first set saw Rublev try to take games a different way than his norm, though. Normally, he likes to consistently hit groundstrokes with as much force as possible. He still did that to a great degree in the opening set, but he also came into the net far more than usual.
Ultimately, the plan didn't work as Medvedev was able to get a break at 5-all and then hold to take set one 7-5, but Rublev did play well. It took Medvedev's best form to get the lead. Rublev, well known for not being the easiest on himself, likely didn't feel great about how the match was trending, though, and one might have wondered if he came into the net less in the second set.
If Rublev was angry at himself in the first set, he was likely reeling after the first game of set two. Medvedev got the break and seemed well on his way to winning his third title of 2026.
Medvedev pushed Rublev a couple of more times to get another break, but there was no real need, as he was holding with relative ease. He was in such control of his serve that there was little doubt in the outcome. The Hangzhou crowd seemed to sense that too. They were appreciative of the at-times excellent play, but understood what was going to happen.
Serving at 5-4, Daniil Medvedev hit an ace to push past 30-all, and then hit another wicked serve that Andrey Rublev could do little with. Medvedev had won his third title of the year and stayed in the middle of the top 10.
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