Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev had to come from behind twice in the final set to secure a 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over his compatriot, Alexander Shevchenko, at the Madrid Open on Monday. The win propels Medvedev to the last 16 of the tournament, where he will face either Alex de Minaur or Aslan Karatsev.
Shevchenko, who was making his main-draw debut in Madrid after coming through qualifying, took a 5-1 lead in the first set but went down 5-0 in the second. He then led 2-0 and 4-2 in the decisive set but was unable to maintain the lead. He appeared to struggle with cramps towards the end of the match.
Medvedev praised the 96th-ranked Shevchenko, saying that he played well and predicted that he would move up the rankings if he continues to play like he did in the tournament. Medvedev, who is ranked third in the world, now boasts a tour-best record of 33-4 this season.
The 22-year-old Shevchenko’s defeat means that Medvedev has won consecutive matches in Madrid for the first time in his career. Speaking after the match, Medvedev attributed his slow start to the clay court, explaining that he usually struggles to get used to everything that happens on the court. However, he was pleased to have won the match, saying that the third set could have been better, but ultimately, the win is what counts.
In other matches, Mayar Sherif became the first Egyptian to reach the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 tournament by defeating 24th-seeded Elise Merten 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. Irina-Camelia Begu also caused an upset by defeating 14th-seeded Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 6-4, earning her third win against a top-20 opponent in 2023 and securing her third quarterfinal appearance in Madrid. Women’s No. 1, Iga Swiatek, will face 16th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova for a spot in the quarterfinals, while 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva takes on second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.
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