(Rome) The Russian Daniil Medvedev, seeded N.3, had to wait for his fourth appearance to finally win a match on clay at the Masters 1000 in Rome, beating at 2e round the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (43e world), 6-4, 6-2.
Medvedev, whose ocher is far from being the surface of choice, had bitten the dust as soon as he entered the running during his three previous attempts on the banks of the Tiber, in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
He started slowly, trailing 3-0 to 1er set, but this time held its rank, in 1:28, against the Finn, during a match postponed to Sunday due to the rain which largely disrupted Saturday’s program.
“I’m happy to finally win here in Rome! smiled the Russian leaving the court Nicola Pietrangeli.
“I just want to win as many games as possible. The clay is not always easy for me, but this year I am playing well, I have already beaten good opponents, I feel good,” he added.
Medvedev will meet at 3e turn the Spaniard Bernabe Zapata, 38e world, the best ranking of his career.
The Greek Stefanos Tsitispas (N.5), finalist last year in Rome, also made a successful debut at the Foro Italico, despite capricious weather. It only took him a handful of minutes, early Sunday afternoon, to complete his match against Portugal’s Nuno Borges (88e), interrupted at 6-3, 4-3 Saturday night by rain.
“It was quite unusual for me to play such a short match, but the quality was there. And as an athlete, you have to be ready for anything,” said Tsitsipas, after his 6-3, 6-3 victory.
At 3e round, the Greek will be opposed to the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (48e global).