[ad_1]
Labels may be limiting and Daniil Medvedev continues shattering stereotypes.
The self-described “hard-court specialist” continued his sturdy spring surge sweeping Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-2 in his first clay-court match of the yr in Monte-Carlo.
Contemporary off defeating Jannik Sinner within the Miami Open closing for his nineteenth profession title, a red-hot Medvedev scored his twenty fifth victory in his final 26 matches.
Launching his quest for his fifth title of the season, Medvedev raised his document to an ATP-best 30-3 scoring his seventeenth consecutive victory over an Italian.
Nonetheless, the floor swap leaves Medvedev, who has received 18 of his 19 titles on his beloved arduous courts, feeling just a little bit unsettled.
“On clay it’s way more troublesome for me to really feel the sport,” Medvedev instructed the media in Monte-Carlo. “After the match, it’s troublesome for me to say if I performed nicely or not, however I used to be instructed I performed nicely, and the rating was okay with me.
“I felt in management in the course of the match. I’m very glad. This makes me assured for the following match. It’s going to be a tricky one. It’s going to be an enormous take a look at in opposition to [Alexander] Zverev, so I’m glad in the present day.”
Although Medvedev, who suffered 4 straight French Open first-round losses earlier than his 2021 quarterfinal run, has downplayed his abilities on clay up to now he does personal a dust win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on the 2019 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Regardless of some success, Medvedev insists he doesn’t just like the soiled work.
“Anyway, I don’t like clay, and even when I win matches, I desire arduous courts,” Medvedev stated. “However I’ll do the whole lot to win all of the matches.”
The third-seeded Medvedev improved his 2023 Masters 1000 document to 11-1 establishing what could possibly be a fierce Monte-Carlo showdown vs. Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev.
Earlier, Zverev zapped 11 aces and saved two of three break factors in a 6-4, 6-4 overcome Spaniard RobertoBautista Agut.
The Thirteenth-seeded Zverev is extra comfy on clay than Medvedev and it reveals in his outcomes. Zverev has received six of his 19 profession titles on clay, together with three Masters 1000 crowns on dust: 2017 Rome and 2018 and 2021 Madrid.
Total, Medvedev holds a slender 7-6 edge over Zverev of their head-to-head collection, together with a wild 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 Indian Wells win final month. This would be the pair’s first assembly on clay.
“There are different gamers. Tsitsipas received twice right here, however certainly we had many huge matches, Sascha and I,” Medvedev stated. “Typically when one in all us wins, he goes to the ultimate or wins the match.
“So we had huge battles and I do know he likes clay, so I’ll must be excellent tomorrow to attempt to beat him.”
The winner of Medvedev vs. Zverev will advance the quarterfinals.
[ad_2]
Source link
