Match report
Survive Samrej! Medvedev avoids historic upset at Australian Open
Fifth seed to face #NextGenATP star Tien in second round
January 14, 2025
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev in action against Kasidit Samrej on Tuesday at the Australian Open.
Par Andy West
A shaky start, but Daniil Medvedev is back up and running at the Australian Open.
The three-time finalist at Melbourne Park avoided one of the biggest upsets in recent Grand Slam history on Tuesday by scoring a first-round triumph 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 against the World Cup. No. 418 Kasidit Samrej, from Thailand. Medvedev salvaged a sometimes wayward performance with typically solid play in the fourth and fifth sets to wear down an opponent who simultaneously began to struggle physically in the Melbourne sun.
“I watched his matches and I didn’t see this level, so I was surprised,” Medvedev admitted during his on-field interview. “If he plays like that every game, life can be good… I wish he could play like that every game.” [Not] if I’m facing him. You have to be consistent to succeed in tennis, and I wish him that.
Number 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Medvedev’s mid-match struggles are reflected in his unusually high unforced error total of 34, 17 of which occurred in the second and third sets according to Infosys Stats. However, that shouldn’t take away from an impressive effort from Samrej, who also showed some courage on stage at key moments, particularly when he held serve for 3-3, 0/40 en route to win the third set.
Fresh from training with Novak Djokovic during the off-season, Samrej took to the Rod Laver Arena to become the third Thai player to play a men’s singles match at a major Open Era tournament and he delighted the crowd with its varied game. The 23-year-old showcased some big weapons from the baseline, while deploying plenty of trick shots to take the fight to Medvedev in his Grand Slam debut.
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Kasidit Samrej won just three matches at the tour level before the Australian Open. style=”width: 100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2025/01/14/06/40/samrej-ao-2025-tuesday.jpg”>
Kasidit Samrej in action against Daniil Medvedev on Tuesday afternoon at the Australian Open.
Having established a two-sets-to-one lead, the prospect of Samrej pulling off the lowest-ranked upset among the top five seeds at a Grand Slam in the Open Era was real. Yet the Thai, whose best previous victory according to the PIF ATP rankings was against the then number 1. No. 157 Coleman Wong at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Seoul last year was unable to maintain his bid to also become the third lowest-ranked player to defeat a Top 5 opponent since 2000.
Having never played more than three sets in a professional match, Samrej drank pickle juice after suffering cramps in the fourth set, during which Medvedev regained full control. He broke Samrej’s serve twice in each of the fourth and fifth sets en route to a victory in three hours and eight minutes.
Medvedev is no stranger to going the distance at the Australian Open, where he has won three five-set matches during his run to the 2024 final. Yet he will be relieved to have avoided a huge upset at his opening match, in which he appeared a little rusty after arriving late in Australia following the birth of his second child.
“I know I play better when I play more tennis. So I said to myself: “Why play for an hour, 30” [minutes]I need at least three hours to feel my shots better and have good sensations,” Medvedev joked. “But seriously, in the second and third sets I couldn’t touch the ball, no power or anything. I didn’t know what to do.
A three-time finalist at Melbourne Park, Medvedev hopes to raise his level for his second round match. His opponent will be another newbie to the event, Learner Tien. The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF finalist defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
