Danil Medvedev battled past Alexandre Muller 7-6 (7-5) 5-7 6-2 after 2 hours and 50 minutes to reach the third round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Muller earned an early break in the first game at deuce and consolidated it with a hold at love to open up a 2-0 lead. Medvedev broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3.
Muller broke for the second time in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Medvedev pulled back on serve in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Medvedev earned two mini-break points to open up a 4-0 lead in the tie-break. Muller pulled one of the two mini-breaks back for 2-4. Medvedev earned a third mini-break to open up a 5-2 lead. Muller won three consecutive points to draw level to 5-5. Both players traded mini-breaks on the 11th and 12th points to draw level to 6-6. Medvedev won the final two points to win the tie-break 8-6.
Medvedev went up a break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Muller won three games in a row to seal the second set 7-5 forcing the match to the third set.
Medvedev earned an early break in the first game of the third set. He showed his skills at the net when he finished off the point with a behind the back volley winner at 1-0. The Russian player converted his third break point in marathon fifth game before serving out on his first match point in the eighth game. Medvedev is aiming to win his first title since he won the Masters 1000 in Rome on clay. He is outside the top 10 for the first time in two years.
Grigor Dimitrov came back from one set down to beat Monegasque wild card Valentin Vacherot 4-6 6-3 6-1 setting up a third round match against Alejandro Tabilo, who upset former number 1 Novak Djokovic 6-3 6-4. Vacherot comverted his second break point in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. Dimitrov broke back on his third opportunity in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Vacherot broke for the second time in the ninth game and served it out on his second set point. Vacherot went up a set and a break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Dimitrov won four consecutive games to clinch the second set 6-3. Dimitrov went up a double break to race out to a 3-0 lead. Vacherot pulled one of the two breaks back for 1-3. Dimitrov won the final three games to seal the third set 6-1.
