Daniil Medvedev survived a dramatic match and lasted a marathon against Alexander Zverev in the third round of the 2023 Monte Carlo Open.
The third seed had to play extra hard before defeating the 13th seed, Alexander Zverev 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, a victory that led him to the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Open.
German Zverev could have won at 5-4 in the second and third sets and wasted two match point opportunities in the third set tiebreak, but he was unable to break the former world number 1’s resolve.
An intense match in which both players put in high-quality play but struggled to do so consistently was ultimately decided when the third seed remained more solid at the crucial moments.
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The 2021 US Open champion trailed at 5/6 and 6/7 in the third set tiebreak, but Zverev’s mistakes in both positions cost him dearly. The third seed grabbed three straight points to complete the win and advance to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Open for the second time.
“It was an amazing match,” admitted Medvedev. “He’s had the chance to serve to win the game twice, he probably should have done better, but it’s also clay-court. I tried to watch a lot of matches before going into this tournament and one thing I saw is that you can get up at any moment. Serves aren’t relied on so much, so once someone feels a little tight, the match can change direction in a second. That’s what I do.”
Both tennis players have enjoyed much success in returns. Zverev broke the 2023 Miami Open champion six times, but the world number 5 converted six of the 13 break point opportunities he created in a match that lasted 3 hours and 5 minutes, a win that put him 8-6 up in their head to head .
Medvedev, who is currently 31-3 in 2023, will face Holger Rune in the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Open after his Danish opponent, Matteo Berrettini, was forced to retire due to injury.
This meeting will be the first meeting between the two tennis players, so both players are not completely familiar with each other’s game.
“She is an amazing tennis player,” commented Daniil Medvedev about Rune. “We practiced on many occasions. The first time at the ATP Finals when he was still a junior tennis player. Then more at Mouratoglou Academy. We practice a lot on the clay court.”
