Medvedev defeated Italy's Andrea Vavassori in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, but not before hanging early in the game.

The Russian broke away at 4-4 in the first set by taking his opponent's serve before concluding on his own.

The match was then interrupted by rain in the second set, which was able to resume once the roof of the Caja Magica closed. The scenario of the first act was then repeated more or less, Medvedev managing this time to break 5-3 and then win in the wake against the Italian, who fell to Andy Murray in the previous round.

Eliminated in the quarterfinals in Monte-Carlo by Holger Rune two weeks ago, Medvedev hopes to do better on the Madrid ochre. "With the altitude, I think I can play better in Madrid. I have more chances here than elsewhere," he said before starting his tournament on Wednesday.

Medvedev will face compatriot Alexander Shevchenko, ranked 96th in the world, in the next round.

Relying on his powerful serve, Stefanos Tsitsipas also qualified, overcoming Austrian Dominic Thiem, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5). The Greek is still looking for his first title in 2023. He will meet Argentina's Sebastian Baez in the next match.

The surprise of the day on the men's side was the work of Serbian Dusan Lajovic, 40th in the world and winner of the Banja Luka tournament against Andrey Rublev last Sunday. He rode on his excellent form by eliminating No. 7 seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Sabalenka rises in power

In the women's draw, Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, world No. 2, beat 21-year-old Colombian Camila Osorio 6-4, 7-5 to reach the knockout stages.

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka, winner of Colombia's Camila Osorio on Saturday in the third round of the Madrid Masters 1000 © OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

Sabalenka made a perfect start to the match, leading 2-0 and then 3-1 quite easily... But then got into trouble, and won the first set in the snatch.

In the second act, Osorio, ranked 115th in the world, sought medical assistance, and continued the match with a bandage on his left thigh. She managed to score a spectacular point at the net and a perfectly licked cushioning that triggered the applause of the audience... but not enough to stop Sabalenka from racing to victory.

Sabalenka, winner of the last Australian Open, will face the surprise of the tournament, the Russian Mirra Andreeva (194th), who celebrated her 16th birthday by beating the Polish Magda Linette (19th), 6-3, 6-3.

Russia's Mirra Andreeva celebrates her victory at the Madrid tournament against Poland's Magda Linette, April 29, 2023 © OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

"I'm not really surprised at my level, because I know how I can play on court. But of course I didn't expect to be here and go this far," she told Tennis Channel.

The tournament ended there for France's Caroline Garcia, world No. 5, who lost to Egypt's Mayar Sherif (59th), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

She is not the only resident of the top 10 to have fallen, since the N.6 Coco Gauff also took the door, corrected by Paula Badosa, 6-3, 6-0.

© 2023 AFP