Medvedev overpowers Shevchenko to reach last 16 of Madrid Open

Daniil Medvedev defeated fellow compatriot Alexander Shevchenko having to come from a set down and two breaks in the final set 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 and progressed to the last 16.

The 22-year old Shevchenko impressed with his performance as he gave his much more elusive opponent a hard time on the court, taking an early 5-1 lead in the first set, but succumbing to 5-0 advantage in the second.

Despite the 2nd set rout, the 96th-ranked player refused to give up as he took a 2-0 and 4-2 lead in the final set, but failed to materialize it into victory.

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“I feel like I played pretty well in the second and third sets, and maybe the end of the first,“ Medvedev commented after the game.

“The thing about clay (is) usually it is tough for me to start matches for whatever reason. I need a lot of time to get used to everything that is happening on the court. The third set (I could) have been a bit better at crucial moments, or maybe a lot better. But finally I won, so that counts also.”

This was Medvedev’s first back-to-back victories at Madrid and he will be awaiting qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the last 16.