Finalist in three of the last four editions of the Australian Open, the Russian Daniil Medvedev (5th in the world) began his journey in Melbourne on Tuesday with a laborious victory in five sets against the Thai Kasidit Samrej (418th).
The former world No.1 won 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 against the first Thai player to play a singles match in the men’s draw at a Grand Slam since 2012.
Never beaten in Melbourne by a player ranked below 131st, Medvedev will play in the second round against the young American talent Learner Tien (121st), from the qualifications and also emerging victorious from a five-set fight on Tuesday against the Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli (94th).
Winner of the US Open in 2021, the Russian is the last member of the top 5 to qualify for the next round, after the qualification in three sets of the defending champion Jannik Sinner (1st), the German Alexander Zverev (2nd ), the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) and the American Taylor Fritz (4th).
-Not well enough ranked to directly enter the qualifications or the final draw of the Australian Open, Samrej had snatched his ticket to Melbourne by winning a tournament reserved for players from the Asia/Pacific zone, the winner of which earned a place in 1st round of the first Grand Slam of the season.
With AFP
