Paris Masters | Daniil Medvedev beaten from the start by Grigor Dimitrov

(Paris) World No.3 Daniil Medvedev was eliminated at the start of the Masters 1000 in Paris by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2) in the second round Wednesday, like world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz the day before.

Trailing 5 games to 2 in the third set, Medvedev delayed the deadline until the decisive tiebreaker and repelled six first match points – including one after an exchange of 47 shots – but Dimitrov (17^e) ended up concluding on its seventh occasion, in just under three hours. Before that, he had difficulty equalizing with one set everywhere and only managed to do so on his seventh chance.

Tuesday evening, Alcaraz lost from the start against Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-4.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic still has to enter the fray in the afternoon, facing Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry (31^e).

The tone rose between Medvedev, known for his mood swings, and the Bercy public. In the second set, whistled after throwing his racket when he allowed Dimitrov to come back from 5-2 to 5-5, “I’m not going to play when they whistle,” the Russian told the referee.

“You have to go play. The more you stop (playing), the more it annoys them, the more they whistle,” the latter replied.

” They’re stupid ! If they don’t whistle, I play! », continued Medvedev.

“Hey, you (don’t) whistle, I’m playing guys, but shut your mouths, OK!” », he addressed the spectators directly.

“I don’t play like that!” I didn’t do anything to make them whistle at me,” persisted the world No.3, titled in 2020 in Paris. The discussion ultimately earned him a warning for running out of time.

Medvedev still did not delay once the match was over: he left the court giving the crowd the middle finger.

“Medvedev-Dimitrov is one of the best duels on the circuit to watch in my opinion. Brilliant opposition in strikes, style and personality,” greeted Andy Murrray on X.

In the round of 16, Dimitrov will face Kazakh Alexander Bublik (33^e), heartthrob of Frances Tiafoe (14^e) 6-3, 6-3 in the first round and winner of the Chilean Nicolas Jarry (20^e) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7-3) to the next one.