Melbourne (AP) – After an emotional performance in Melbourne, US Open champion Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open is only separated by three wins from the second Grand Slam triumph.
The Russian number two in the tennis world was initially upset about the opponent’s luck and was annoyed at not being able to run to the toilet as desired. But Medvedev won the tennis match, including a break in treatment, against the uncomfortable and in-form American Maxime Cressy 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 4), 6: 7 (4: 7), 7: 5 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Medvedev angry about placement
“I was pretty upset about a few things,” said the 25-year-old, questioning why he wasn’t allowed to play on Center Court at Rod Laver Arena. In the absence of Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic, last year’s finalist from Moscow is the highest-ranked player in the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
His fourth task was scheduled at Margaret Court Arena, while Australia’s Alex de Minaur had the biggest stage at Melbourne Park. “I really don’t know what to do about playing the Grand Slams on the Center Courts Slams,” Medvedev quarreled. “When you play on a smaller pitch it’s more difficult to play against a serve and volley specialist than on a bigger pitch,” said the Russian.
For Medvedev it was also a match of missed break chances, he was unable to use nine of twelve opportunities. “It’s just unbelievable how lucky he is,” Medvedev complained during the match, looking at his opponent. For the second time in his fourth appearance this year, the title favorite lost a set. “It was long, it wasn’t easy,” admitted Medvedev: he only managed to outpace Cressy in the first sentence. All other sets were hard fought.
Next opponent: Felix Auger-Aliassime
Medvedev now meets Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the fight for a place in the semi-finals. Medvedev defeated the young Canadian in the semifinals on his way to the US Open title in New York. In Melbourne, world number ninth Auger-Aliassime defeated former Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic from Croatia 2: 6, 7: 6 (9: 7), 6: 2, 7: 6 (7: 4). For the first time, two Canadian tennis men reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament after Denis Shapovalov threw Alexander Zverev from Hamburg out of the title race on Sunday.