ATP Tour

Medvedev continues impressive Tiafoe record, Lehecka retires with injury in Brisbane

Daniil Medvedev maintained his impressive Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Frances Tiafoe on Wednesday at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ to reach his 90th tour-level quarter-final.

Medvedev did not face a break point and won 91 per cent (31/34) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to recording a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win in 61 minutes.

The top seed, who is chasing his 22nd tour-level trophy this week, now leads Tiafoe 6-1 in the pair’s Head2Head series, with all seven of their meetings coming on hard courts.

"The court is pretty fast so you need to serve well and I am happy with the way I served," Medvedev said. "I thought I played much better than in the first round, didn't face a break point, and that puts a lot of pressure on the opponent. I had a couple of good games on his serve and that was enough today."

Medvedev has fond memories in Brisbane, having advanced to the final in his only other previous appearance in 2019. The No. 13 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has yet to drop a set through his first two matches of 2026 and will aim to continue that form against Kamil Majchrzak. The Pole beat Reilly Opelka 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-6(8), saving three match points.

In a battle between good friends, American Alex Michelsen overcame countryman Learner Tien 6-4, 6-2. The 21-year-old Michelsen trained with Tien during their teenage years and has had the better of the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion since their first meeting in Jeddah 13 months ago. Michelsen leads Tien 3-1 in their Head2Head series.

Michelsen will meet Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals. The 25-year-old advanced after the defending champion Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire due to an ankle injury, with Korda leading 6-3, 1-2.

Korda has performed impressively in Australia in the past, reaching the final in Adelaide in 2023 and 2025 and the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 2023.