Danil Medvedev beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-3 6-2 on Court Rainier III to reach the third round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Medvedev saved the only break point he faced and won 90% of his first serve points to seal his 25th win in his 26 tour-level matches. He was beaten only once by Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Indian Wells.
Medvedev held serve with ease in the first game of the opening set before producing a lob and a volley to break serve on Sonego’s first service game in the second game for 2-0. Medvedev saved the only break point he faced in the third game to hold serve for 3-0.
Sonego saved double break points in the fourth and eighth games. Medvedev held his next service games and converted his third set point to close out the first set 6-3.
Sonego held his first service game at the start of the second set, but Medvedev earned a break in the third to open up a 3-1 lead.
Sonego gifted Medvedev three break points. Medvedev converted his second chance to race out to 4-1 lead, when Sonego hit long in response to a lob from Medvedev.
Medvedev was not able to convert the first match point on Sonego’s serve, but Medvedev served out on his second match point in the next game.
“It’s completely different on clay, but confidence is confidence. It’s about winning matches, because it is always two players that play, and one is going to win. I hope to bring this confidence even further”, said Medvedev.
Medvedev set up a third-round showdown against Alexander Zverev, who beat Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-4. Medvedev and Zverev will meet for the 14th time on the ATP Tour, but it will be their first clash on clay. Medvedev leads 7-6 in his previous 13 head-to-head matches against Zverev on the ATP Tour.
“We have had some tough matches. We played for the first time seven years ago on the ATP Tour and in juniors 12 years ago. I beat him on clay in juniors, but it’s going to be a different story. I saw Alexander in the first two matches He seemed to be in good shape. I am just going to have to be at my best”, said Medvedev.
This year’s Australian Open semifinalist Karen Khachanov beat Ilya Ivashka 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 to set up a third round match against his compatriot Andrey Rublev. Khachanov saved two break points in the fifth and seventh games, as both players went on serve en route to the tie-break. Khachanov earned three mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2. Khachanov earned two breaks in the fifth and seventh games to close out the second set 6-2.
