Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev breezed to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia on Saturday to advance to the fourth round of the French Open in Paris.
Medvedev is bidding to return to at least the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the second straight year.
The 26-year-old Russian broke serve on two occasions en route to capturing the first set against the 28th-seeded Kecmanovic. Medvedev struck 42 winners and broke Kecmanovic five times to finish the match in one hour and 48 minutes.
“To be honest, before the match, I would never have thought I could make this score happen on clay courts,” Medvedev said.
“Everything I wanted to do today worked. I was serving great. I feel like I was almost putting all the returns in and I made his life tough. Maybe he didn’t play his best level, (but) I managed from my side to make his life as tough as possible, and it was enough to win today.”
Medvedev will face No. 20 Marin Cilic in the fourth round. The Croatian posted a 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 win over Gilles Simon of France.
Also on Saturday, No. 7 Andrey Rublev of Russia recorded a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (11) win over Cristian Garin of Chile.
Rublev rallied from a double-break down in the fourth set and saved five set points in the tiebreak to win the match in three hours and 11 minutes.
The 24-year-old will face No. 11 Jannik Sinner of Italy, who saved 11 set points in the second set en route to seizing a 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over Mackenzie McDonald.
“I always feel well here in Paris,” Sinner said after the two-hour, 50-minute victory. “It is very special for me to play here and I hope you (the fans) come out in the next round because I think I need the support. Thank you so much.”
No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas had a much easier time of it on Saturday. The native of Greece needed just 92 minutes before seizing a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Mikael Ymer of Sweden.
No. 12 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland battled through a tough first set to notch a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 win over David Goffin of Belgium.
Hurkacz will face No. 8 Casper Ruud of Norway, who outlasted No. 32 Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 6-2, 6-7 (3), 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 in three hours and 28 minutes.
–Field Level Media
