(Madrid) Russia’s Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round of the Madrid Tennis Open on Saturday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Italy’s Andrea Vavassori in his first match of the tournament .
The second seed and third in the ATP rankings, Medvedev dominates the men’s circuit in 2023 with four titles, all won on hard courts. He’s posted a 32-4 overall record since the start of the season.
Medvedev is seen as the main contender to defeat reigning champion Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz had to fight hard on Friday to win their first match of the tournament, in three sets against Emil Ruusuvuori.
However, Medvedev is weighing his expectations as he is aware that clay is not his preferred surface.
“As always, I will do my best,” Medvedev said. “Today I felt very good on the court, and in the rallies I was in control which is very important on clay. »
Ranked 164e in the world, Vavassori had surprised Britain’s Andy Murray in the previous round.
PHOTO MANU FERNANDEZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Andrea Vavassori
The Italian offered quality play early in the game and forced Medvedev to save three break points. However, the former US Open champion took control of the clash by breaking the last game serving his rival in the opening set.
The duel was briefly interrupted by a downpour, which was welcomed in Madrid which, like other cities in Spain, is mired in a deep drought.
In the next round, Medvedev will face qualifier Alexander Shevchenko, who eliminated Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-1.
In addition, two Americans were shown the way out in the second round. Ben Shelton, 38e in the world, first lost in three sets against the German Jan-Lennard Struff (65e), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5. Later, Tommy Paul (17e) lost in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(3) to 112-ranked Russian Roman Safiulline at the ATP.
On the women’s side, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s No. 2 player, opened her tournament with a straight-set 6-4, 7-5 win over Camila Osorio.
PHOTO ISABEL INFANTES, REUTERS
Aryna Sabalenka
Australian Open champion last January, Sabalenka is trying to win the Madrid Open for the second time after her three-set triumph over Australian Ashleigh Barty in 2021.
Sabalenka was in control for most of the clash except for a drop in her game after Osorio called for a medical time-out as the Colombian fell 1-4 at the second set.
Sabalenka struggled with her serve but was able to pull herself together and win the match.
Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, Belgium’s Élise Mertens and Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova also won their respective matches in straight sets on Saturday.