MELBOURNE: Three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev survived an early scare on Wednesday before battling into the Australian Open third round.
The feisty Russian kept his cool in the sunshine to beat Quentin Halys of France 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over three hours.
The former world number one and 11th seed faces Fabian Marozsan of Hungary next at Melbourne Park.
“It was a very tough match, happy I managed to fight,” said Medvedev, who polished off the match in style with his 14th ace.
“Happy to play some good tennis to win. I still cannot get used exactly to the court and still am missing a little power in my shots.
“But definitely playing better, feeling good.”
The first set against 83rd-ranked Halys was an almighty battle stretching over 68 minutes.
Halys eventually pulled through on the 20th point of a marathon tiebreak, then immediately put pressure on Medvedev’s serve at the start of the second.
The Frenchman duly broke and Medvedev, who has vowed to be more “positive” on court, gave the first fleeting signs of losing his cool.
The 29-year-old, the beaten finalist in 2021, 2022 and 2024, reset and straight away broke back with a terrific two-handed backhand down the line.
The 2021 US Open champion rattled off three games in a row to lead 3-2 and was firmly in the ascendancy as he took the second and third sets to turn the screw on the flagging 29-year-old Halys, before racing away in the fourth.
Medvedev, whose record was poor at the Grand Slams last year, warmed up for another crack at the Melbourne Park title by winning the Brisbane International.
“I need to rebuild my confidence step by step,” Medvedev admitted, referring to his poor recent record in majors.
“Just trying to enjoy it and play some good tennis.”
Medvedev battles into Melbourne third round after early scare
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Medvedev battles into Melbourne third round after early scare
- Feisty Russian keeps his cool in the sunshine to beat Quentin Halys of France 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over three hours
‘Animals in a zoo’: Swiatek backs Gauff call for more privacy
- Coco Gauff upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals
MELBOURNE: World number two Iga Swiatek on Wednesday backed Coco Gauff’s call for more privacy during tournaments, saying players sometimes feel “like animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop.”
Third seed Gauff was upset when cameras caught her smashing her racquet in the depths of the stadium on Tuesday after she was beaten in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The American was trying to find somewhere private to let out her frustrations, rather than doing so on court in front of fans including children.
“I tried to go somewhere where they wouldn’t broadcast it, but obviously they did,” said Gauff.
“So maybe some conversations can be had because I feel like at this tournament the only private place we have is the locker room.”
Swiatek, who was also bundled out of the quarter-finals in Melbourne by Elena Rybakina, said back-stage cameras could be too intrusive.
“The question is, are we tennis players, or are we animals in the zoo where they are observed even when they poop, you know?” she said.
“Okay, that was exaggerating obviously, but it would be nice to have some privacy. It would be nice also to, I don’t know, have your own process and not always be observed.
“It would be nice to have some space where you can do that without the whole world watching.”
Swiatek was caught up in her own off-court drama earlier in the week when she was denied access to an area in Melbourne Park because she was not wearing her accreditation.
It was recorded on camera and the clip did the rounds on social media.
“I don’t think it should be like that because we’re tennis players,” she said.
“We’re meant to be watched on the court and in the press. That’s our job. It’s not our job to be a meme when you forget your accreditation.
“Oh, it’s funny, yeah, for sure. People have something to talk about, but for us I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Swiatek’s straight-sets loss to Rybakina denied her a career Grand Slam of all four majors.
She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.
