Returning Medvedev makes solid start to Dubai title defence
Daniil Medvedev returns to action in Dubai and wins his first match since the Australian Open.
Returning Medvedev makes solid start to Dubai title defence
After a month away, Daniil Medvedev made a strong comeback in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. He defeated Alexander Shevchenko with a score of 6-3, 7-5, marking a successful start to his title defence at the hard-court ATP 500 in the United Arab Emirates. Medvedev broke in three consecutive return games to win the first set, and then rallied from 3-5 down in the second set to win four games in a row and secure the victory in 88 minutes.
Medvedev had taken a week and a half off due to a foot injury after his loss in the Australian Open final. He admitted that coming back from an injury is not easy, but he was able to overcome the pain and focus on his match. He expressed satisfaction with his level of play and looked forward to the next round.
Ugo Humbert avenges previous loss against Gael Monfils
In another match, Ugo Humbert had a sweet revenge against Gael Monfils. After losing to Monfils in the pair's Doha quarter-final clash last week, Humbert came back strong to win with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. This victory marked a successful start for Humbert on his Dubai debut. He will now face 2017 Dubai champion Andy Murray in the next round.
Other notable matches included Arthur Cazaux defeating Lorenzo Musetti, and Karen Khachanov overcoming #NextGenATP star Luca Van Assche. Jiri Lehecka also secured a win against Marton Fucsovics, while Christopher O’Connell advanced to the second round by defeating Maximilian Marterer.
Upcoming matches and players to watch
Daniil Medvedev, with a record of 7-1 for the season, will now face Lorenzo Sonego or Sumit Nagal in his next match in Dubai. Medvedev aims to win the same tour-level title twice for the first time.
Ugo Humbert, after his revenge against Monfils, will now take on Andy Murray in what promises to be an exciting match.
Fans can also look forward to matches featuring Arthur Cazaux against Andrey Rublev, and Karen Khachanov against Jiri Lehecka.
