Medvedev Advances Past Medjedovic At Rome Masters, Rublev Out; Fritz v Dimitrov

Daniil Medvedev‘s Rome Masters title defense still has life after the Russian eased past Hamad Medjedovic 7-6(7-5), 2-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round.

Medvedev broke the 20-year-old Serb early in the third but it wasn’t enough. He then did it again at 5-6 to win it.

“I felt like I started the match well and then in a way it was only going downhill,” Medvedev said to the ATP. “My serve was not there, my shots were not aggressive enough when I needed to. Because many times I would like to play the rhythm I played, but I would also like from time to time to surprise my opponent with some good shots. Today I was not able to do it.

“At one moment in the match, I thought what I was doing would not be enough to win the match. So I’m happy that even by playing not my best I could win. Tomorrow I’m going to try to find my best tennis.”

Medvedev is back on court tomorrow as all eight men’s fourth round matches are scheduled. He’ll face American Tommy Paul in a good one.

Medvedev’s countryman Andrey Rublev saw his run end at the hands of qualifier Alexandre Muller 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The 6th-seeded former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas bested (28y,15r) No. 27 seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-6(1). Next up will be Alex De Minaur who ousted 18th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in a match that went the distance 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4.

Hubert Hurkacz ousted No. 25 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets 7-6(7), 6-2 and No. 21 Nicolas Jarry advanced over Stefano Napolitano 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Also tomorrow, American No. 1 Taylor Fritz takes on Grigor Dimitrov in a battle of two very in-form players. And former champion Alexander Zverev gets Nuno Borges.