- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Daniil Medvedev’s New Year resolution to turn over a new leaf on court didn’t last long despite the Russian coming from a set down to win through to the Australian Open second round.
Returning to Melbourne Park without playing a lead-up tournament, the world No.3 conceded the opening set to French qualifier Terence Atmane on Monday.
But he wrested control of the encounter and was leading 5-7 6-2 6-4 1-0 in hot conditions on Margaret Court Arena when Atmane retired with cramps.
“Tough match,” said Medvedev.
“He played well. I played bad in the beginning of the first set.
“I am happy that then I managed to regain the momentum and actually when I started feeling tough physically he started cramping.
“I (have) cramped many times like this. This time it was for him and if he plays like this he can do big things.”
The frustrated Frenchman was slapped with a time violation warning and briefly reduced to hitting underhand serves.
He smashed his racquet and burst into tears at the change of ends but miraculously limped on before retiring early in the fourth set.
“You can see his emotions there – he’s in tears because he just wanted to come out and give the best,” commentator Roger Rasheed said on Stan Sport.
“You get through qualifying, you’re playing well, you’re feeling good, you’re on a big court against big players. We do feel for him, there’s no doubt about that. That’s not how you want tennis to be played.
“The emotional energy that you use prior to the match could have been the thing that did the damage… it wasn’t an overly physical encounter.”
Medvedev will face Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round after the Finn also came from a set down to beat American wildcard Patrick Kypson 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
Medvedev has enjoyed his running battles with crowds, particularly at the Australian Open and US Open, where he has a combined five finals appearances for one title.
Before this year’s tournament, the rangy Russian admitted he had fuelled his pantomime villain persona through his past actions but said he wanted to mature and change his ways.
The former world No.1 was mostly on his best behaviour but could not resist motioning to his ear for the crowd to applaud after a reflex-volley winner, the same gesture made by Atmane following a critical first-set point.
Medvedev also repeatedly complained about the temperature of his on-court water, saying it was becoming too hot as the mercury neared 30C at Melbourne Park.
“I don’t need a cold beer,” he told an official.
Last year’s runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas was similarly sloppy early in his first-round clash with lucky loser Zizou Bergs, dropping the opening set before prevailing 5-7 6-1 6-1 6-3 in just under three hours.
The seventh seed came into the Open under a fitness cloud, withdrawing from the ATP Finals in November and Greece’s United Cup opener earlier this month with a back complaint.
Bergs who replaced 2022 semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini in the draw after the Italian suffered a right-foot injury.
Elsewhere, Chile’s Nico Jarry became the first seed knocked out of the men’s draw with a gruelling five-set loss to Italian Flavio Cobolli.
Swiss great and 2014 Open champion Stan Wawrinka appeared on track for a date in the second-round before French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino came back to win 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3 6-0.
In his first slam appearance since Wimbledon following an injury-riddled 2023, Canada’s former world No.10 Denis Shapovalov was drubbed 6-3 7-5 7-5 by 18-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.
American No.29 seed Sebastian Korda survived a scare from Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva, winning 6-1 6-4 2-6 4-6 6-2.
Other men’s seeds to progress on day two were Italian Lorenzo Musetti, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and 2022 Open quarter-finalist Ben Shelton.
Shelton will meet Australian Chris O’Connell in the second round after his five-set win over Chilean Cristian Garín on Sunday.
© AAP
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.