After winning the 2023 Rome Open title, Daniil Medvedev started the defense of his Rome Open title against Jack Draper in the second round. Medvedev won 7-5, 6-4 to qualify to face Hamad Medjedovic in the third round and keep his title defense alive.
The Rome Open has been interesting from the beginning with emotional moments like the exit of Spanish tennis legend, Rafael Nadal, at the hands of Polish superstar, Hubert Hurkacz, the shock defeat of world number 1, Novak Djokovic, to Alejandro Tabilo, 31 places below him on the rankings, and other upsets.
Today, world number six and winner of the Madrid Open eight days ago, Andrey Rublev, lost to world number 109, Alexandre Muller, in three sets. There were also wins earlier in the day for Stefano Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur, to send them into the fourth round.
World Number 121 Rattles Daniil Medvedev
Having recovered from the injury that took him out of the Madrid Open, Daniil Medvedev has now won two consecutive matches in the Rome Open.
Daniil Medvedev broke Hamad Medjedovic’s serve in the first game of the first set to lead the set 1-0 after the Croatian had tried a drop shot that the Russian had anticipated. Hamad Medjedovic then broke the world number 4’s serve in the 11th game to bring them back on serve and force a tie-break.
Daniil Medvedev won the tie-break to lead the match 1-0 when Medjedovic fired a shot into the net at set point. But, Medjedovic dominated him with fiery winners and net points while his unforced errors kept letting him down.
Medvedev Survives Scare To Win
Medjedovic started the second set even more dominant than the first set. He forced a break of Daniil Medvedev’s serve in the third game with a heavy forehand across the court. The entire set had him dominate all the metrics. He won 6-2 after he hit 13 unreturned winners, eight net points, five fewer unforced errors than Daniil Medvedev, and didn’t face a break point all set.
The unforced errors returned in the third set. Daniil Medvedev profited from one of them in the fourth game of the set as it led to a break of the Croatian’s serve.
A big return of Daniil Medvedev’s serve from the Croatian in the seventh game of the set brought them back on serve though, as he fought back against the world number 4 who didn’t seem convincing all through the match.
In the 12th game of the set and on match point, a long exchange ensued between them with both players testing each other with powerful cross-court forehands until Medjedovic’s forehand volley went into the net. Daniil Medvedev won the match 7-6, 2-6, 7-5.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic Stunned In Rome Open 3rd Round By World Number 32
2023 Finalist Beaten In 3rd Round
The 2023 Rome Open final had been contested by Holger Rune and Daniil Medvedev, with the Russian victorious in two sets 7-5, 7-5. The Danish 21-year-old kicked off his 2024 Rome Open campaign against Luca Nardi in a clash he won 6-4, 6-4.
Today, the Dane was defeated in three sets by Sebastian Baez, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Argentine dominated Rune with a supreme performance while serving, facing five of the six break points he faced all match in the first set. He didn’t face a single break point all through the third set.
Tommy Paul also defeated Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round of the tournament. The American was in imperial form as he dominated the Germans with his winners and at the net.
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