Medvedev beats Bublik, reaches Masters 1000 milestone in Madrid

Daniil Medvedev has been one of the most consistent performers on the ATP Tour across the past five years. On Tuesday, the World No. 4 hit a new milestone that reflects his ability to so often bring his best to tennis’ biggest stages.

With his 7-6(3), 6-4 triumph against Alexander Bublik at the Mutua Madrid Open, Medvedev completed the full set of reaching at least the quarter-finals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. Medvedev, who made his first last-eight appearance at that level in 2019 in Monte-Carlo, rallied from a break down in the opening set against Bublik before clinching a one-hour, 44-minute triumph inside Manolo Santana Stadium.

New level unlocked 🔓@DaniilMedwed becomes the 10th active player to complete the set of quarter-finals at all 9 ATP Masters 1000 events ✅@MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/XqH7gR8nkk

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 30, 2024

The straightforward scoreline disguised the fact that Medvedev was frequently given the run around in the face of a typically entertaining performance from Bublik. The 17th-seeded Kazakhstani made good use of his drop shot to keep Medvedev on his toes, but he was unable to capitalise on breaking serve in the fifth game of the match.

“It was a tough match,” said Medvedev. “A lot of drop shots, and I got so tired in the end running for them. That’s when you lose your concentration and you start to play a bit worse. That’s what happened, but after the match he told me he was dead also. So good for me, at least I was not the only one.

“Generally I felt like it was a good level. Some good points, some good serving and some bad serving. So it was a bit up and down, but I’m happy that I was able to stay more consistent and win it in the end.”

The pivotal moments of Medvedev’s win came during the first-set tie-break, when he seized control of the match after a hard-fought opening by charging to a 6/0 lead. After closing out the set, the third seed then raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set, one that ultimately proved unassailable as his consistency from the baseline ground down Bublik.

Now 6-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Bublik, Medvedev will take on record five-time champion Rafael Nadal or 30th seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals. It will be his 20th Masters 1000 quarter-final overall and his third of 2024 as he bids to lift his seventh title at that level.

“I think I watched only yesterday, the third set," said Medvedev, when asked if he had been watching home favourite Nadal's matches in Madrid. "The third set was pretty big in my opinion. He was not looking very tired, Pedro [Cachin] was. It will be interesting to see how it is today. I played Jiri in practice here before the tournament and he was playing some big tennis.

"So it is super interesting to see how it goes, to see if Rafa is better, if he is tired or not tired, and I will get ready for the winner.”

Andrey Rublev earlier became the first player of the day to book a quarter-final spot with an impressive victory against Tallon Griekspoor. The No. 8 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Rublev arrived in Madrid off the back of four straight losses, but the 26-year-old beat Griekspoor 6-2, 6-4 to make it six sets played, six sets won so far in the Spanish capital.

Rublev converted three of seven break points he earned against the 24th seed Griekspoor, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to close out a 64-minute triumph. He is now into his second quarter-final in Madrid, where he will play the winner of a rematch of the 2023 final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jan-Lennard Struff.