Medvedev feeling 'like an Italian restaurant', advances at US Open

Daniil Medvedev advanced to the US Open third round for the seventh consecutive year Thursday when he raced past Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(5).

Chasing a second major trophy this fortnight, the 2021 champion was dialled in from the first ball. He resembled a brick wall from the baseline and struck the ball with depth from every corner of the court. Medvedev looked to pick on the Hungarian’s backhand and when Marozsan opened his racquet head to slice, the 28-year-old went into attack mode.

“The match today, I felt like an Italian restaurant. The food is great, the aftertaste is great but your head is like — so noisy,” Medvedev assessed in his on-court interview. “All the match I was like, ‘Try to focus! Try to focus!’ It was a fun feeling.

“I managed to stay really solid, some great moments, and I’m really happy to be through to the next round.”

The opening set featured six breaks of serve, including three consecutive breaks to start the match. Medvedev stuck to his trademark deep return position, which Marozsan countered with drop shots. But the fifth seed’s quick speed allowed him to cover any dropper. When Marozsan came to net, Medvedev ripped passing shots by the 24-year-old or forced him to hit volleys at his feet.

Despite making just 47 per cent of his first serves, Medvedev was nearly flawless in rallies, committing 25 unforced errors to Marozsan’s 45, across the two-hour and four-minute match.

Up next for the World No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings is 31st seed Flavio Cobolli, who earlier beat Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. It will be their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Taking care of business ? @DaniilMedwed books his spot in R3 after at 6-3 6-2 7-6(5) victory over Marozsan.@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/wM5M4bncMq

After early losses in Montreal and Cincinnati, Medvedev has appeared to put those defeats behind him, improving to 37-13 on the season following Thursday’s win. The 20-time tour-level titlist is seeking his first trophy since Rome last year.

Earlier, #NextGenATP Jakub Mensik mounted a comeback from two-sets-to-love down and saved two match points to survive Australian Tristan Schoolkate 6-7(4), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 7-6(3). Into the third round at Flushing Meadows for the second consecutive year, the Czech hammered 27 aces across the four-hour, 14-minute battle.

Mensik, who turns 19 on Sunday, is third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. He is aiming to make his debut at the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF in December.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]