Medvedev Advances to US Open Second Round

• Tennis

Former US Open champion, Daniil Medvedev, made a resounding statement as he swiftly secured his position in the second round of the hard-court major on Tuesday. The third seed demonstrated his prowess by overpowering Hungarian player Attila Balazs with an impressive scoreline of 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.

While Medvedev entered New York with a relatively modest 3-2 record at ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, he wasted no time in finding his rhythm on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. His masterful performance led to a decisive victory over Balazs, earning him his 50th tour-level win of the season, achieved in just one hour and 16 minutes.

Reflecting on his stellar start, Medvedev expressed his satisfaction, stating, "It is always good to start well. I am happy with my performance. I am looking forward to the next matches and to play for as long as possible in New York.

I hope I can play better and better each match as each one is going to be more difficult."

Medvedev's Masterful Performance and US Open Legacy

Throughout the match, Medvedev's strategic positioning deep behind the baseline limited Balazs's opportunities, allowing him to maintain control.

Displaying remarkable precision, the World No. 3 committed only 13 unforced errors and impressively evaded any break point situations. His remarkable display paved the way for an upcoming second-round clash against either Max Purcell or Christopher O’Connell.

Medvedev's history at the US Open holds significant weight. The 27-year-old clinched his maiden major title in 2021, triumphing over Novak Djokovic in a memorable final. Now, as he sets his sights on a second Slam victory, Medvedev boasts an already impressive record of four tour-level trophies on hard courts this year.

With his latest victory, Medvedev's US Open record advances to 24-5, surpassing his win tally at the other three Grand Slam tournaments. Notably, he has accumulated 21 wins at the Australian Open, 13 at Wimbledon, and 7 at Roland Garros.

In parallel action, Alexander Zverev showcased his dominance by smoothly defeating Aleksandar Vukic with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Zverev's impeccable performance translated to an 86 percent success rate on his first serves, allowing him to secure victory in two hours and 11 minutes.

Sitting at the eighth position in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin with 2,715 points, Zverev is acutely aware that a strong showing at this hard-court major could significantly enhance his prospects of qualifying for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals—an event he has previously won twice (in 2018 and 2021). His next challenge will come against the winner of the match between Daniel Altmaier and Constant Lestienne.