Tennis, Indian Wells: Medvedev, the debut as number 1 is all easy

Easy debut in Indian Wells by Daniil Medvedev, who won his first game as world number 1 by beating Czech Tomas Machac, world number 158 6-3 6-2 in 70 minutes. The first point is a very long exchange: Medvedev agrees to play without pushing on the accelerator and Machac, who has nothing to lose, saves without too much difficulty a passer-by from the Russian’s backhand, immediately winning a break point. The number 1 in the world cancels the chance and then with a backhand from the center of the field to the left holds the first game. The Czech has his head completely free from thoughts and you can see him from the forehand attack in chop that makes the audience peel the hands at the beginning of the fifth game. Daniil, however, slightly raises the bar, hits more smoothly, holds the bar and then in the sixth game he breaks the match. At this rate Machac cannot hold up. The Czech loses control of the forehand, suffers 12 consecutive points sinking under 5-2. With a very difficult straight cross Daniil opens the ninth game.

Without history

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The Russian does not smile, but waves the racket with his hand when he shoots a first to the body to get within two points of the set. Machac has no weapons either to counterattack or to defend himself. After 34 minutes Medvedev is already one set ahead. The rest of the game has little history, Medvedev concedes very little and plays at an unattainable level. The Russian flies to 5-1, missing a match point on the answer, wastes a high one on 5-2 but closes in third. In the second round Medvedev is expected by the winner between Filip Krajinovic and Gael Monfils