(Madrid) The Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, world No.4 and No.8, qualified for the quarter-finals at the Masters 1000 in Madrid on Tuesday, the first against the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (18e) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, the second against the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor (25e) 6-2, 6-4.
Medvedev, even if clay is still not his cup of tea, has now reached the quarter-finals in the nine Masters 1000s on the calendar. He is the tenth active player to achieve this.
For a place in the last four, he will face either Rafael Nadal or the young Czech Jiri Lehecka (31e), opposite in the evening.
Asked about Nadal’s previous match, lasting more than three hours against the Argentinian Pedro Cachin (91e) on Monday, Medvedev estimated that there had been “a big third set”.
“He (Nadal) didn’t look very tired, Pedro (Cachin) did. It’s going to be super interesting to see how things go today (Tuesday), if Rafa is tired or not, if he’s better. I trained with Jiri (Lehecka) before the tournament and he was playing great tennis,” he continued.
Rublev, who remained on a series of four defeats before setting foot on the clay court of Madrid, made a place in the quarter-finals without losing a single set in three matches.
PHOTO VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA, REUTERS
Andrey Rublev
In the next round, he will face Carlos Alcaraz, world No.3 and double holder of the trophy, or the German Jan-Lennard Struff (24e), outgoing finalist.