Medvedev solves Mannarino riddle in Beijing

A year ago, Daniil Medvedev made the final in Beijing. Will this be the edition when he breaks through and lifts the trophy at the China Open?

The third seed improved his chances by defeating familiar foe Adrian Mannarino 7-6(6), 6-2 in the second round on Saturday to book his quarter-final spot. He is now three wins from claiming his first tour-level title of 2024.

“It’s not easy to play, so I am happy that [in] the tie-break, [I] managed to save a set point," Medvedev said. "Two good serves, then return in the court, which was not enough. But tough match, tough battle, happy to win.”

75th tour-level quarter-final ?@DaniilMedwed rallies past Mannarino 7-6(6) 6-2! @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/jBrghyqVwF

The No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings had to dig deep against the Frenchman, who has always been a tough opponent for him. Down a set point at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, Medvedev escaped when his opponent missed a return. He then looked more comfortable as the match progressed.

After exchanging service breaks early on in the second set, he took the lead by hitting a blistering forehand down the line to break Mannarino’s serve again. There was no looking back for him as he made quick work of the Frenchman from there, winning four games in a row to seal the match in one hour, 41 minutes. He leveled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 4-4.

Medvedev fired eight aces and won 80 per cent of his first-serve points. He finished having converted four out of six break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

With the win, Medvedev advanced to his 75th tour-level quarter-final and eighth of the season. The 20-time tour-level titlist will next take on rising Italian Flavio Cobolli, who eliminated qualifier Pavel Kotov 6-4, 6-2.

“Titles are more important obviously than finals. But even then 75 quarter-finals are great," Medvedev said. "When I made my first quarter-final [it] was [in] Moscow and I was pretty happy. And now it's 75. I am still happy, but not the same way. But if you want to win the tournament you need to be in the quarter-finals.”

Medvedev is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin. The 28-year-old aims to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the sixth consecutive year.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]