Daniil Medvedev defeated Dominik Koepfer at 00:30 am
World no. 5 Daniil Medvedev made a winning start at Roland Garros. Daniil needed sleeves and leggings on a chilly Parisian night in a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 triumph over Dominik Koepfer in three hours and eight minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu.
They finished the duel half an hour after midnight, and the Russian made a strong push in the second part of the fourth set, sealing the deal and avoiding spending more time on the court. Daniil made the difference with his first serve, while Dominik played a bit better behind the second.
Medvedev turned 47% of the return points into seven breaks from 11 opportunities, forging the advantage and bringing the victory home despite failing to defend any of four break points offered to his opponent. The German played aggressive tennis and landed 48 winners and 38 unforced mistakes.
Daniil accumulated 35 direct points and 26 errors. Also, he mixed his strokes nicely, gathering over 20 drop shots and forcing 60 errors from his rival.
Koepfer had the upper hand in the most advanced rallies.
However, Medvedev ruled the shortest and mid-range exchanges, earning the win in that segment. Daniil created two game points with a drop shot winner in the first game of the match and held with a powerful serve for 1-0. The German missed a volley at the net in the second game, losing serve and pushing the Russian 2-0 in front.
Medvedev cemented the advantage with another fine drop shot in the third game, controlling the pace and opening a 3-0 gap after nine minutes. World no. 5 forced the rival’s mistake in the fourth game, creating another break chance.
This time, he made a loose drop shot attempt, and Koepfer denied a break point with a backhand winner. The lower-ranked player landed a smash winner, holding and getting his name on the scoreboard. Dominik created three break points in the fifth game with a lucky net cord winner and broke at love after Daniil’s volley mistake.
Daniil Medvedev made a winning start in Paris.
Medvedev recovered quickly and grabbed a break at 15 in game six after Koepfer’s wild forehand, restoring the order and moving 4-2 in front.
The Russian held at love in game seven, forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set. Dominik extended the battle with a fine hold before Daniil closed the set with a forced error on his serve at 5-3, clinching the opener in 37 minutes.
Medvedev served well in the second set, dropping three points in his games and keeping the pressure on the other side. World no. 5 held at 15 in game two and made a push on the return in the next one. A left-hander sprayed a backhand error and faced three break points.
Daniil landed a drop shot winner on the first, delivering a break at love and opening a 2-1 gap. Medvedev confirmed the break with a service winner in game four, settling into a fine rhythm. Dominik held in the fifth game with a forced error before Daniil produced a hold at love for 4-2.
The German followed that pace and landed a service winner in the seventh game, remaining within one break deficit. Medvedev held at love in game eighth for 5-3, forcing Koepfer to serve to stay in the set.
A left-hander clinched the game after three deuces, leaving the Russian to serve for the set at 5-4. Daniil placed a drop shot winner for two set points and repeated that on the first, opening a 6-3, 6-4 advantage after an hour and 22 minutes.
Koepfer raised his level in the third set, challenging Medvedev for over an hour and stealing it in the closing stages to prolong the battle. Daniil clinched a break in the first game and held at 15 in the next one, looking good to seal the deal in the next half an hour.
Dominik held after deuces in game seven and faced a break point at 4-4 after a loose forehand.
Koepfer denied it with a service winner and held to prolong his chances. Daniil served to stay in the set at 5-6 and squandered a game point with a loose forehand. Dominik caused an error from his rival for a set point and converted it with a volley winner at the net, taking the set 7-5 and prolonging the battle after two hours and 26 minutes.
Like in the previous three sets, Medvedev grabbed an early break in the fourth after the rival’s double fault. World no. 5 opened a 3-1 lead with two fine holds before the German pulled the break back in game six with a forehand crosscourt winner, remaining competitive after nearly three hours on the clock.
Medvedev stayed composed and clinched a break in the seventh game for another advantage. The Russian returned at 5-3 and grabbed another break with a backhand winner, booking a place in the second round.