ATP Tour

No nap time for Medvedev in Halle first-round win, Tsitsipas survives Darderi

Daniil Medvedev brought up his 20th win of 2025 in style Monday at the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle.

The third seed eased to a 6-3, 6-3 triumph against home wild card Daniel Altmaier to book his second-round spot at the grass-court ATP 500. Medvedev delivered a confident 63-minute display to kick-start his campaign at an event where he reached the championship match in 2022.

“It’s a very convenient place to play tennis,” said Medvedev of Halle, renowned for it’s on-site player hotel, after his win. “You stay in a hotel two minutes from the practice courts and two minutes away from centre court. So it’s the only tournament in the year where after your warmup you even go back to your hotel room.

“It even feels a bit strange. I’m a bit scared of overdoing it too much, going to sleep and missing the match! So it’s a fun tournament and I’m always happy to come back.”

Meddy on the move 🎯

2022 runner-up @DaniilMedwed fends off Altmaier 6-3, 6-3 ➡️ R2@ATPHalle | #ATPHalle pic.twitter.com/Py1oy7EYz4

— ATP Tour (@atptour) June 16, 2025

A former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Medvedev is currently No. 10 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He could hardly have made a more convincing start to his latest bid for a first ATP Tour title since 2023 against Altmaier. Medvedev converted three of six break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats, while he also saved both break points he faced in the match, from 4-2, 15/40 in the second set.

“I felt great, honestly,” said Medvedev. “I think I pkayed a great match. Some moments where I had to be decisive, I managed to do it. Some moments where I had to save some break points and things like that, I managed to do it, so I’m very happy with my match and looking forward to the next one.”

Medvedev, who began his grass season by reaching the ‘s-Hertogenbosch quarter-finals last week, is now 20-12 for the 2025 season. The 29-year-old will take on Quentin Halys, a 6-4, 6-4 winner against Benjamin Bonzi, in the second round in Halle.

The 2023 champion Alexander Bublik notched an equally comfortable opening victory on Monday, when he downed Alexandre Muller 6-4, 6-4. Bublik reeled off five consecutive games from 3-4 in the first set to take control of his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Muller, and he wrapped his victory in 61 minutes to improve his Halle tournament record to 7-1.

Bublik will take on top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner or qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the second round, while Fabian Marozsan also progressed in the top quarter of the draw. The Hungarian opened the week’s play inside OWL Arena with a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4 win against Miomir Kecmanovic.

There was a thrilling conclusion to the day’s play when Stefanos Tsitsipas passed a stern test from Luciano Darderi to improve to 5-0 in Halle opening rounds. The 12-time ATP Tour champion prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) to set a second-round meeting with fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo or Alex Michelsen.