Medvedev is hurt. He shows in his eyes and in his perch on the track, even more serious than usual. In Indian Wells, after losing to Gael Monfils in the third round, he lost the world number one. Very short reign that wants to recover. At the Miami Masters 1,000, he needs to reach the semi-finals for that. After beating Andy Murray in his debut match, he is now just three wins away. 6-4 and 6-2 in almost an hour and a half (1h29) very long for the British tennis player, who was exhausted in the last games, giving up the serve blank in the penultimate and, for the curious, getting out of the sun in their turns of service. In the third round, the Russian player will face Pedro Martínez, winner against Cristian Garín by a 7-6(2) and 6-2 in 2h17.
Andy, as he demonstrated in Indian Wells, becoming the 18th player to reach 700 wins, he still has rope, but right now, with all his physical misfortunes, he is far from the special category ports, from the first places, whatever you want to call the top elite. There is Daniil, as was Murray, and there he wants to stay. The number one in the world from six years ago against the number one in the world from two moments ago, who asserted the temporary advantage. Above all, in a high-level second round, in which he went for breakage four times (he got two) and won 82% of the points with his first serve. and 80% with the second (for the distant 27% of Murray). He also did not have to face any ball of break and took 73% of goals to the rest after the second serve. And, above all, he ran an uncomfortable Andy in physical exchanges. A talented and intelligent Daniil, nothing new, but also resentful. More dangerous and attentive to a cheating debut.
The signs of respect began before the game, with an always elegant Murray, and continued afterwards, with a Medvedev acknowledging the magnitude of the tennis player in front of him, whom he has beaten in his two direct confrontations (the previous one, in 2019, in Brisbane). “I’m happy to have won without conceding break balls, although I think I have room for improvement. It was a great match against an impressive player,” praised the Russian after the duel. Inside the track, the you to you only lasted half a set, despite the great British attitude, which ended up succumbing in the second break attempt. “Serving is the easiest way to win. On those days when you serve well and your opponent doesn’t have the pace to return… they help. If that happens, you put a lot of pressure on the opponent and this is what happened today “, analyzed Daniil, in statements collected by the ATP itself. A game scheme that he wants to keep in Florida. At least until he sits back on the throne.
Results of the Miami Masters 1,000.