Daniil Medvedev is yet to defend an ATP title!
World no. 4 Daniil Medvedev will not defend his Rome Masters title. The Russian suffered a heavy 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Tommy Paul in an hour and 13 minutes, ending his campaign in the fourth round and dropping 900 ATP points. Daniil survived the clash against the young Serb Hamad Medjedovic a day earlier.
Still, he could not do the same against the American, struggling in the opener and hitting the exit door despite an early advantage in the second set. Paul played rock-solid tennis and reached his fifth Masters 1000 quarter-final, the first on clay.
The American landed 19 winners and 22 unforced errors, performing well at the net and reducing the Russian to eight winners from the court.
Tommy had the upper hand in the shortest and most advanced exchanges, setting the quarter-final clash against another top-10 rival, Hubert Hurkacz.
Paul wasted a game point in the first game of the encounter and sprayed a forehand error, losing serve and pushing Medvedev in front. The American stayed focused and drew the rival’s mistake in the second game, pulling the break back and gaining a boost.
Daniil hit a loose forehand in the fourth game, experiencing a break point and losing serve for the second straight time after Tommy’s volley attack and a forced error. Paul held in the fifth game for 4-1 and made another push on the return in the next one.
Daniil played a terrible game, losing serve at 15 after a double fault and falling further behind.
Tommy Paul ousted Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in Rome.
Tommy served for the opener in game seven and landed four winners, wrapping up the opener 6-1 after swift 28 minutes and gaining a boost.
Medvedev produced a fine hold at the beginning of the second set and converted the second break point in the next one with a forced error to forge a 2-0 advantage. Daniil placed a backhand long in the third game, losing serve and allowing Tommy to return to the positive side.
The American held at love in game four and continued his charge with another strong performance on the return at 2-2. Paul fired a backhand crosscourt winner, earning his second straight break and moving closer to the finish line.
Medvedev made one last push on the return in game six, creating two break points. Tommy denied them with service winners and closed the game after a couple of deuces following Daniil’s wayward backhand.
Medvedev served well in games seven and nine, extending the battle and hoping for one last chance on the return at 4-5. The Russian played a loose backhand at 30-15, missing an opportunity to create two break chances. Tommy landed a volley winner at the net for a match point and seized it after Daniil’s backhand mistake, moving into the quarter-final and remaining on the title course.