Daniil Medvedev has been one of the finest tennis players. The World No.5 has yet again struck with disappointment as he was knocked out from the second round at the Paris Masters on Wednesday. Alexei Popyrin upset the fourth-seeded star 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in the second round. It was an intense battle between both players. The Russian has been searching for his first ATP victory this year.
The 25-year-old Australian, who won his maiden Masters 1000 championship in Montreal this summer, had lost the previous three meetings with his Russian opponent. But on the fourth occasion, he was successful in beating the World No.5 on the ATP tour. Medvedev won the Paris title in 2020, but he has not enjoyed the indoor competition in recent years. His loss to Popyrin is the third time he has been eliminated in the first round.
Popyrin, ranked 24th in the world, won only his third match against a top-five player. Medvedev, who has already qualified for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals next month, came back twice in the final set. He fought back from 4-1 down to force a tie-break, and after losing 4-1, he tied at 4-4. However, with Popyrin ahead 5-4, Medvedev double-faulted, giving the 25-year-old Australian two match chances, which he quickly converted.
Daniil Medvedev’s troubling season raises questions
Is Daniil Medvedev losing his edge? Medvedev is not the first high-profile seed to fail at the first hurdle. His compatriot Andrey Rublev and Norway’s Casper Ruud have both lost. Carlos Alcaraz remains in contention, having won his opening match on Tuesday, and is expected to win the title after Italian world number one Jannik Sinner withdrew due to intestinal problems.
Daniil Medvedev said, “It was a tough match. I should have played better but at the same time, I had my opportunities, and I did not take them. It was a very tight match.” Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s eighth seed, defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (9/11), 6-3, 7-5, and could be a dark horse for the title. Dimitrov still has a chance to qualify for the Masters. If he wins the Paris title, he will pass Djokovic (sixth), Ruud (seventh), and Rublev (eighth).
