Alex De Minaur overcame 2020 champion and 2021 finalist Danil Medvedev 6-4 2-5 7-5 to reach the third round at the Paris Rolex Masters at the Accor Hotel Arena in Paris Bercy. Medvedev lost in a first round match for the fourth time this season.
De Minaur will take on Frances Tiafoe, who beat Jack Draper 6-3 7-5.
The Australian player had lost all his previous four head-to-head matches against Medvedev, including two matches in which he had won the first set.
“It’s a good one to get. It’s end of the year. Everyone is tired, but I am proud of my performance. I just played very smart. I knew it was going to be a chess match out there, both baiting each other to be aggressive, but you didn’t want to be too aggressive at times.It was an absolute battle and I was able to come out on top”, said De Minaur.
De Minaur, who entered this match with a 0-18 record against top 5 opponents, won one point more than Medvedev and fended off 12 of the 15 break points he faced. The Australian player converted three of his ten break points.
De Minaur dropped only eight points in his five service game. Medvedev saved three break points to hold serve after three deuces in the second game of the opening set.
The first set went on serve until the 10th game when De Minaur earned two set points at 5-4 with a forehand down the line winner. The Australian player converted his first opportunity after 49 minutes to win the first set 6-4 after Medvedev mishit the smash long.
Medvedev converted his fourth break point in the first game of the second set to open up a 2-0 lead after a loose forehand error from De Minaur.
Medvedev made an error with a forehand with a forehand on a break point in the fifth game before breaking serve at 4-2. Medvedev saved a break point in the eighth point with a volley winner, as he was serving for the set. The Russian player sealed the second set 6-2 with an ace.
Medvedev started the third set with a break on his fourth opportunity in the opening game. De Minaur pulled back on serve at 15 to draw level to 2-2 and saved break points in the fifth and ninth game. Medvedev saved two match points on serve at 4-5 and served to stay in the match for the second time at 5-6. The 2020 Paris Bercy champion fended off another match point before De Minaur sealed the win with a break on his fourth opportunity after a double fault after 2 hours and 46 minutes. De Minaur has scored his first win in 19 attempts against a top 5 player. He equalled his best result in Paris, where he reached the third round in 2019 and 2020.
