Daniil Medvedev Starts Dubai Title Defense with Convincing Win.
Daniil Medvedev returned to action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after a month-long hiatus and demonstrated his usual unwavering style on Tuesday. The World No. 4 began his title defense at the ATP 500 event in the United Arab Emirates with a solid 6-3, 7-5 victory over Alexander Shevchenko.
Medvedev asserted his dominance early, breaking in three consecutive return games to secure the first set. Despite facing a 3-5 deficit in the second set, he rallied to win four games in a row, closing out the match in 88 minutes.
“After taking a couple of weeks off, returning to the court was relatively easy as it was planned,” Medvedev remarked. “Although I needed some time off due to a foot injury following my loss in the Australian Open final, I managed to recover and prepare well.”
Reflecting on his performance, Medvedev acknowledged the challenges of returning from injury but expressed satisfaction with his level of play. “Getting back after an injury is tough, but I’m satisfied with how I performed today,”He said. “I had to stay focused and forget about any distractions on the court.”
Medvedev capitalized on his opportunities, converting five of nine break points, and extended his head-to-head lead over Shevchenko to 2-0. Despite Shevchenko’s resilience, Medvedev’s consistent play proved too much to handle.
ALSO READ: 4-3: Seattle Kraken Triumph in Shootout
Looking ahead to his next match, Medvedev remains focused on his goal of winning the tournament for the second consecutive year. “I’m looking forward to the next round and continuing to perform at a high level,” he added.
With a 7-1 record for the season and an impressive 29-2 record on hard courts against opponents outside the Top 50 since the beginning of 2023, Medvedev is poised for another successful campaign in Dubai. His next opponent will be either Lorenzo Sonego or wildcard entrant Sumit Nagal.
