mtenis.com.pl

Top seed returns to favoured hard courts

Playing in his first match since June and making his debut at the Abierto de Tenis Mifel, Daniil Medvedev eased back into competition with a 6-4, 6-3 result against Australian wild card Rinky Hijikata.

The World No. 1 earned his 250th match win as he returned to his favoured hard courts for the first time since his run to the Miami quarter-finals in March.

"Somebody told me this a few days ago at media day, otherwise I would not have known," Medvedev said of the reaching the 250-wins landmark. "That's probably a milestone in a way. For sure I want more victories but that's also nice to have 250. We'll try to get more."

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/dani ... ew'>Daniil Medvedev</a>
Medvedev secured his first break of the match to seal the opening set as he settled in on the Los Cabos stadium court, then converted on his fifth break point of the second midway through the set.

"It's definitely not that easy to play after you stop for a while, especially [playing my] first match on hard courts in a long, long time, since Miami," he said. "Sensations were not bad. I could have just broke a little bit more, but when you win, everything is fine. I have to play like this in the next matches."


Hijikata, a North Carolina Tar Heel and the World No. 224, did not go down quietly. Enjoying the occasion, the 21-year-old created his share of highlights by using his athleticism to cover the court and made Medvedev work for over 90 minutes on court.

Through to the quarter-finals, Medvedev next faces Ricardas Berankis, who defeated Facundo Bagnis 7-6(4), 6-3 on Wednesday.

World No. 1 faces Kecmanovic next
It was smooth sailing for Daniil Medvedev in the beach town of Los Cabos on Thursday, as the World No. 1 eased into the semi-finals of the Abierto de Tenis Mifel.

After earning his 250th match win in the opening round as he found his footing back on the hard courts for the first time since March, Medvedev reached a new gear in his debut at the ATP 250 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Ricardas Berankis.

"It was very different," Medvedev said, comparing the match to his opening victory against Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. "My opponent [today] played very different, much more aggressive. To be honest, against that type of player sometimes you don't have much to do. Just try to serve well, bringing the balls back in the court.

"That's what I managed to do. He missed a little but too much today and that was enough."

The Official App Of Tennis | Download ATP WTA Live App

Medvedev dropped just three points on first serve, but made fewer than half of his first deliveries in the one-hour, 19-minute contest. He saved two break points in the opening set and had to navigate through a two-deuce service game midway throughout the second before sealing victory with his eighth ace.

The 26-year-old is two wins away from his first title of 2022, and one win away from securing his place atop the Pepperstone ATP Rankings until after the US Open, where he will be defending 2,000 points as the reigning champion.

"I like playing on hard courts. I'm playing great here so far," Medvedev said of his confidence level. "Of course the further you go, the tougher the matches, the tougher the opponents, more pressure. But that's what we like and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."