Medvedev overcomes Shevchenko to succeed in final 16 in Madrid

MADRID — Daniil Medvedev needed to come from a break down twice within the remaining set to succeed in the final 16 of the Madrid Open with a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win over fellow Russian Alexander Shevchenko on Monday.

“He played well. He’s young, so I’m sure he’s going to (move) up the rankings, especially if he plays like in this tournament,” Medvedev stated of the 96th-ranked Shevchenko, who was making his main-draw debut in Madrid after coming via qualifying.

The victory takes Medvedev to a tour-best 33-4 report this season. He will subsequent face both Alex de Minaur or Aslan Karatsev.

The 22-year-old Shevchenko, who appeared to battle with cramps towards the tip of the match, took a 5-1 lead within the first set however went down 5-0 within the second. He then led 2-0 and 4-2 within the decisive set.

“I feel like I played pretty well in the second and third sets, and maybe the end of the first,“ the third-ranked Medvedev said. “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 is the primary time Medvedev has received consecutive matches in Madrid.

Women’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek later faces Sixteenth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova for a spot within the quarterfinals. Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old Russian, takes on second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.