Cristian Garín celebrated this Thursday the best victory of his career, after beating Daniil Medvedev, world three, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 in Madrid.
It is the second time that the Chilean has prevailed over a number three in the world, however, the stage gives another value to this triumph. In 2019 he did it against Alexander Zverev in Munich. Now it was at a Masters 1000 and advancing to the round of top eight.
The good feelings that Garín left against Verdasco and Koefper opened the illusion of going for the feat, and on the court Arantxa Sánchez endorsed it. The start found Garín solid, with a break up and morale at peak. In 41 minutes he won the first set.
Medvedev only appeared in the second set. Just like the day before before Davidovich, the Russian was uncomfortable in the Spanish capital, and especially on clay. But the Russian doesn't need to be on his best day to be a dangerous opponent. It is enough for him to take less risks, refine the serve, and reduce errors to a minimum to continue there: 7-6 took the second.
But Garín did not play worse, nor did he lower the level, nor was he careless. He faced the final set with the same mentality that he entered. And there was the difference with respect to the only duel they had played in the past, in the Master 1000 in Canada in 2019. This time the Chilean did not let the Russian revive, kept the pulse and settled among the greats.
With your victory, The 25th in the world advanced for the second time in his career to the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000, and for the first time since Paris 2019. Now he will try to secure his place in the semifinals, when he meets the victorious Mateo Berrettini and Federico Delbonis.