Medvedev Hits 60 Wins, Tsitsipas Makes Fast Start In Shanghai

Daniil Medvedev picked up where he left off Saturday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Stepping onto the Qizhong Tennis Center’s Stadium Court for the first time since his 2019 title run, Medvedev ground down Cristian Garin for a 6-3, 6-3 win to kick-start his campaign at the ATP Masters 1000 event. A display packed with trademark defensive nous and a refusal to miss proved too much for Garin as the second seed comfortably advanced having converted five of nine break points he earned.

.@DaniilMedwed will not be denied 🙅‍♂️#RolexShanghaiMasters | @SH_RolexMasters pic.twitter.com/vvkSBEL07b

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 7, 2023

With his 92-minute victory, Medvedev became the second player to notch 60 tour-level wins this season after Carlos Alcaraz. It is the second time he has achieved the feat in his career, after he finished the 2021 season with 63 wins. The 27-year-old Medvedev also owns a Tour-leading 43 victories on hard courts this season.

“I hope so, you never know,” said Medvedev, when asked if he was confident of passing his record of 63 wins. “At this moment and with the form I’m in, I would confidently say I will do it, but never say things too early in tennis.

“I’m going to try my best, I’m going to try to play more good matches in the tournament that I have left this season. It’s a good result so far, so I want to try to do better.”

Medvedev now holds a 7-2 record in Shanghai, where he lifted the second of his six Masters 1000 crowns by beating Alexander Zverev in the 2019 championship match, and is chasing his third title at that level this year having already triumphed in Miami and Rome. He will next look to avenge his Australian Open defeat to Sebastian Korda when he takes on the American in the third round in China.

Medvedev’s fellow Top 5 star Stefanos Tsitsipas also enjoyed a confidence-boosting opening win in Shanghai. The Greek downed Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-2 with a rock-solid display in which he struck 18 winners and just four unforced errors.

Tsitsipas has struggled for form in recent months and holds a 4-5 record since he lifted his 10th ATP Tour crown in August in Los Cabos. He will hope fond memories of Shanghai can help him rediscover his best level for an event where he beat Felix Auger-Aliassime, Hubert Hurkacz and Novak Djokovic en route to the semi-finals in 2019.

“It always helps having some good results in the background, especially when you come back to tournaments like this, big events at the best stage that tennis can offer,” said the Greek after his 82-minute triumph against Hijikata. “I’ve had a few encounters playing here with different kinds of players… I’m constantly building, and I hope to continue on this journey.”

The fourth seed will take on Ugo Humbert or Botic van de Zandschulp next in China as he chases his maiden hard-court Masters 1000 crown. A deep run would also boost Tsitsipas’ Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes — the Greek is currently sixth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.

Nicolas Jarry and Matteo Arnaldi were also early winners on Saturday. The 22nd seed Jarry ended #NextGenATP qualifier Terence Atmane’s run with a 7-5, 6-2 triumph. The Chilean will next take on 10th seed Frances Tiafoe or Lorenzo Sonego as he looks to reach the last 16 for the second time in Shanghai.

Arnaldi added another impressive win to his breakout year on the ATP Tour by downing 21st seed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The 22-year-old Italian twice trailed by a break in the deciding set but recovered for a two-hour, 20-minute win. Arnaldi had not won a tour-level match in his career prior to April but is now 17-12 for the season.

Saving his best till last 💪@mattearnalds comes from a break down in the final set to get the win vs Struff

Forehand #ShotQuality at 9️⃣.3️⃣ in the decider!#TennisInsights | @atptour | @SH_RolexMasters pic.twitter.com/FujB39BMWx

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) October 7, 2023