French Open: Daniil Medvedev sets up quarter-final showdown against Stefanos Tsitsipas
Daniil Medvedev eased through to the French Open quarter-finals with a comprehensive 6-2 6-1 7-5 victory over Cristian Garin, to set up an intriguing last eight showdown against fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Medvedev had suffered four consecutive opening-round defeats at Roland Garros ahead of this year’s showpiece, but his new-found love affair with the Parisian clay continued as he eased to a straight-sets win over the Chilean.
The world No 2 was beaten by Garin in their only other clay-court contest at the Madrid Masters, but he was relatively untroubled on a sun-bathed Court Suzanne Lenglen, striking 46 winners and winning 86 per cent of points on his first serve.
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Medvedev’s backhand was a constant weapon in the opening exchanges, as he broke the 22nd seed twice in each of the opening two sets to establish a commanding cushion.
Garin required medical attention for problems with his right arm and neck ahead of the third set, but he returned revitalised, breaking the Russian for the first time to threaten an unlikely fightback.
Medvedev then requested treatment for an arm issue at 2-0 adrift in the third, but having overturned the deficit, he was seen conducting the crowd and raising his arms aloft after producing consecutive forehand winners down the line to set up victory.
“I hope the people that come on Tuesday think: ‘He seems nice and he speaks French, so let’s cheer him on’,” Medvedev quipped, as he reflected on arguably his finest performance on the red dirt.
Tsitsipas sails through in straight sets
Tsitsipas fended off a late challenge from 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta to advance into the French Open quarter-finals with a convincing 6-3 6-2 7-5 victory.
The Greek, who will play second seed Medvedev for a place in the semi-finals, dominated from the outset against his Spanish opponent; registering 41 winners and making just 17 unforced errors to cap off an outstanding display.
Tsitsipas – a semi-finalist in 2020 – relinquished just five games across the opening two sets, although Carreno Busta threatened a comeback in the third, establishing an early 3-0 cushion with his solitary break of serve.
However, last year’s quarter-finalist was unable to maintain this revival, as Tsitsipas regained his poise to close out a straight-sets victory and claim a tour-leading 37th victory of the season, as he eyes a place in a third straight Grand Slam semi-final.
“The fans love it, I love it, I love playing with people, I love attention,” the 22-year-old admitted. “It’s a privilege and a great sensation for me. Today it was working good for me, I felt like my tactics were working even if I missed some of my drop shots.”
Six of the best for Hewett and Reid
This pair is incredible.
??s Alfie Hewett & Gordon Reid have won SIX consecutive Grand Slam titles in men's wheelchair doubles. ?????? pic.twitter.com/Gk6XMZgymJ
British duo Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid won a sixth consecutive Grand Slam title in wheelchair doubles in dominant fashion.
Hewett and Reid, for whom this is an 11th slam title together, defeated French duo Stephane Houdet and Nicolas Peifer 6-3 6-0.
Hewett will bid to make it two winners’ trophies at Roland Garros for the second straight year when he takes on Shingo Kunieda in the wheelchair singles final.
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