(Los Cabos) World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev has successfully returned to competition in Los Cabos after a month and a half of absence, where he won his first tournament of the season on Saturday, beating 7-5, 6-0 , Briton Cameron Norrie (12e).
Posted at 12:20 a.m.
The Russian, who will defend his title at the United States Open in three weeks, where he deprived Novak Djokovic of an extremely rare calendar Grand Slam last year, is starting his summer perfectly on the American continent, which will also see him put back in game his title at the National Bank Open, next week, at the Masters 1000 in Montreal (he won in Toronto last year), before continuing with that of Cincinnati.
Medvedev was scrutinized under the Mexican sun after six weeks away from the courts. He had indeed been unable to defend his chances at Wimbledon in July, the organizers of the London tournament having not authorized the Russians and Belarusians to participate, in response to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army.
And it is clear that he appeared in the right rhythm for his recovery, not conceding any set in four games, certainly against modest opponents, the Australian Rinky Hijikata (224e), the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (98e), Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic (38e), before finding a more seasoned client in the person of Norrie, who had blocked the path of Félix Auger-Aliassime the day before.
Accumulated trust
The final was only disputed for the first set, Medvedev having had to work several times to contain the ardor of his opponent, who first knew how to unbreak to equalize at 3-3.
Party postponed, since the world No. 1 immediately resumed service to escape 5-3. Sufficient ? Not yet, because Norrie picked up again (5-5), before Medvedev broke a third time after being treated for the top of a phalanx.
“When you play him you know you have to fight for every point. We broke several times and I knew I just had to stay in the game,” commented the Russian, who indeed finished 7-5.
Then he went into steamroller mode, lining up the winning shots to the dismay of the helpless Briton, who capitulated after 1:21 a.m.
Enough to garner a lot of confidence three weeks before the United States Open, for the one who had lost his first three finals played in 2022, including that of the Australian Open where Rafael Nadal had overthrown him at the end of a Homeric battle.
Guaranteed to remain on the throne of the world rankings at least until the end of the New York Grand Slam, Medvedev will nonetheless have the ambition to keep his crown at Flushing Meadows, in the probable absence of Novak Djokovic, prevented from entering the American territory, because not vaccinated, and while uncertainty hangs over the physical condition of Rafael Nadal, embarrassed in the abdominals and package in Montreal.