Paris (AFP)
World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev on Friday won for the first time in his career a qualification for the round of 16 at Roland Garros, beating the American Reilly Opelka (35th), 6-4, 6-2, 6- 4.
Brilliant on hard (winner of the Masters 1000 in Paris and the Masters of the end of the year in 2020, finalist of the US OPen 2020 in particular), the Russian had so far recorded only poor performances on clay, in particular Porte d'Auteuil where until this year he had never won a match in his four previous participations.
Facing the recent semi-finalist of the Rome tournament, Medvedev knew he had to be vigilant and "that it was not going to be easy. But the wet conditions today helped me a bit" especially in countering the powerful serve of the American, he analyzed at the end of the match.
"I'm glad I got out of it."
"This year, I feel really good here. I wanted to do a big thing, I'm getting there. I hope not to stop there," said the native of Moscow in French.
Which delighted the audience of the court Suzanne-Lenglen, who cheered him by singing "Daniil, Daniil" during his post-match interview.
For a possible place in the quarter-finals, Medvedev will meet an ocher expert, Chilean Cristian Garin (23rd), recent quarter-finalist in Madrid and Estoril.
© 2021 AFP