Daniil Medvedev is warming up nicely under the Florida sun.
The World No. 2 looked every bit a four-time ATP Masters 1000 winner on Monday as he brushed past Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open presented by Itau.
Medvedev was pleased with how he had handled the matchup, even when the Spaniard raised his level in the second set. “I just felt like I had to be more consistent, and the more consistent one today would win," he said after the match. "I managed to just make a few less errors at important moments, serve even better, and it was a small margin but I managed to win and I’m really happy.”
The 26-year-old will claw back the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings that he lost two weeks ago with a semi-final run in Miami. This performance suggests he will take some stopping at Hard Rock Stadium and recent history backs that theory up – Medvedev has won 12 of his 13 tour-level titles on hard courts and the win over Martinez was his 178th win on the surface since 2018, 38 more than any other player on Tour over the same period.
Martinez battled well and his run to the third round in Miami has showcased the ability that took him to a maiden ATP Tour title in Santiago in February. The Spaniard will now move onto the clay-court season confident of improving his current career-high ranking of 47.
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Medvedev identified a solid serving performance as the foundation for his win over two-time champion Andy Murray in the second round, and this was the case again against Martinez. He dropped just four points behind his delivery in the opening set, which he clinched with a break in the eighth game despite some spirited resistance from the Spaniard.
An early break in the second suggested Medvedev was ready to run away with proceedings but Martinez hit back to square at 2-2, combining aggression with some stoic defence as the 2021 US Open champion was broken for the first time in the tournament.
Medvedev remained focused despite the setback, powering his way to another break for 4-3 before reeling off eight points in a row on serve to extend his ATP Head2Head series lead over Martinez to 2-0. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he won 79 per cent (31/39) points behind his first delivery in the match overall, firing 14 aces on his way to an 84-minute victory.
The 13-time ATP Tour titlist was pleased with the way he had kept his concentration to clinch a tricky second set. “When I went up a break the first time, it was old balls and the last game when the sun was straight in your eyes, so I didn’t manage to close it out and it was a really tough one," he said. "Then a few games later, I had a break with no sun and new balls, so I managed to play a little bit more free, and that helped me a lot."
Medvedev's fourth-round assignment is a first meeting with American Jenson Brooksby, after the American rallied from 0-4 in the third set to upset 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
The World No. 2 looked every bit a four-time ATP Masters 1000 winner on Monday as he brushed past Spain’s Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open presented by Itau.
Medvedev was pleased with how he had handled the matchup, even when the Spaniard raised his level in the second set. “I just felt like I had to be more consistent, and the more consistent one today would win," he said after the match. "I managed to just make a few less errors at important moments, serve even better, and it was a small margin but I managed to win and I’m really happy.”
The 26-year-old will claw back the No. 1 spot in the ATP Rankings that he lost two weeks ago with a semi-final run in Miami. This performance suggests he will take some stopping at Hard Rock Stadium and recent history backs that theory up – Medvedev has won 12 of his 13 tour-level titles on hard courts and the win over Martinez was his 178th win on the surface since 2018, 38 more than any other player on Tour over the same period.
Martinez battled well and his run to the third round in Miami has showcased the ability that took him to a maiden ATP Tour title in Santiago in February. The Spaniard will now move onto the clay-court season confident of improving his current career-high ranking of 47.
[FOLLOW ACTION]
Medvedev identified a solid serving performance as the foundation for his win over two-time champion Andy Murray in the second round, and this was the case again against Martinez. He dropped just four points behind his delivery in the opening set, which he clinched with a break in the eighth game despite some spirited resistance from the Spaniard.
An early break in the second suggested Medvedev was ready to run away with proceedings but Martinez hit back to square at 2-2, combining aggression with some stoic defence as the 2021 US Open champion was broken for the first time in the tournament.
Medvedev remained focused despite the setback, powering his way to another break for 4-3 before reeling off eight points in a row on serve to extend his ATP Head2Head series lead over Martinez to 2-0. According to Infosys ATP Stats, he won 79 per cent (31/39) points behind his first delivery in the match overall, firing 14 aces on his way to an 84-minute victory.
The 13-time ATP Tour titlist was pleased with the way he had kept his concentration to clinch a tricky second set. “When I went up a break the first time, it was old balls and the last game when the sun was straight in your eyes, so I didn’t manage to close it out and it was a really tough one," he said. "Then a few games later, I had a break with no sun and new balls, so I managed to play a little bit more free, and that helped me a lot."
Medvedev's fourth-round assignment is a first meeting with American Jenson Brooksby, after the American rallied from 0-4 in the third set to upset 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.