Danil Medvedev beat Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4 6-2 in 88 minutes to advance to the third round at the third round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. Medvedev won the first match of his career in his four main draw appearances on the red clay court of the Foro Italico in Rome.
Medvedev went down 0-3 in the first set before winning 12 of his final 15 games. The Russian player converted five of his six break points and dropped his serve twice.
Ruusuvuori held serve at with a forehand winner in the first game before breaking serve in the second game after a double fault from Medvedev.
Ruusuvuori held serve at love in the third game to build up a 3-0 lead after nine minutes. Medvedev pulled the break back in the fifth game after a long rally and held serve at 15 with his serve to draw level to 3-3. Both players held serve in the seventh and eighth games. Medvedev earned three break points, as Ruusuvuori netted a backhand. The Russian player converted his third break point to take a 5-4 lead earning a chance to serve for the set. He held serve at deuce with a service winner to seal the first set in 44 minutes.
Both players traded breaks at the start of the second set. Medvedev earned his second break at 1-1 when Ruusuvuori netted a backhand.
Medvedev held with a service winner in the fourth game and built up a 4-2 lead with a smash winner at the net in the sixth game. The 2021 US Open champion broke serve for the third time in the second set after a forehand error from Ruusuvuori to earn a chance to serve for the win at 5-2.
Medvedev sealed the win with an ace on his third match point to set up a third round match against Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
“It’s a little bit of relief. We can talk about all of the matches I lost here. They were different. The first one, I feel like I should have won, but it is what it is. Whenever I come to a tournament, I know that I can play well, so I am happy to finally get the win here in Rome. I want to win as many matches as possible. I know that it can be a little bit trickier for me on clay, but honestly this year I am playing really well. I lost matches against great opponents, who just played better than me and not much else to say. I am doing my absolute best and playing well. I already beat a lot of good opponents. Last week in Madrid Emil was one of the two players who won a set against Carlos Alcaraz, so I am feeling great and just looking forward to play my best tennis until the end of the clay season”, said Medvedev.
