By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Photo: ABN AMRO Open Facebook
Daniil Medvedev I couldn’t navigate rush hour in Paris today.
Alexei Popyrin upset Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4), sending the two-time finalist to his third straight first-round exit at the Rolex Paris Masters.
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World No. 5 Medvedev has won 18 of his 20 career championships on hard courts, but recently his favorite surface has been a rocky fairway.
This is Medvedev’s third first-round exit in his last six ATP events after back-to-back first-round losses in Montreal and Cincinnati.
The 2021 US Open champion cites the fast course — Paris and Cincinnati are the two fastest hard courts on tour this season — and the ball change have both been contributing factors in those first-round upsets.
Because Medvedev returns from so deep in the court, he can be more vulnerable to opponents who can close the net on fast courts. Today, Popyrin won 21 of 31 trips to the net. Overall, Medvedev won more points (110 to 107), but Popyrin was more confident in the main points.
“The court I think was good. Yes, maybe, when I say a little too fast, when he is the fastest in the tournament, you can feel it, everyone can feel it, so we are a little surprised. “- said Medvedev for media in Paris. “We need time to adjust to it.
“I have a bigger problem in the tournament. You know, some players benefit from it; some players at a disadvantage. It’s OK. It can happen. But it’s a big disadvantage for me.”
The 6’6″ Medvedev believes the fast track dulls his counter-punching skills, and recent results support that theory.
Another issue for Medvedev: Even when he dominates early rounds on fast, hard courts, the matches are often physically demanding, which can wear him down in later rounds.
At the Australian Open in January, Medvedev built a two-set lead before Jannik Sinner rallied, roaring to capture his first major title in Melbourne.
The first rounds are always very difficult for me, because now the matches I used to win maybe 3-3, I can’t do anymore”, said Medvedev. “Every game I play I have to fight. I have to win 7-6 in the third and sometimes I lose.
“Yeah, that’s a reality. It’s the most first-round outs for me since 2018, I’d think, or maybe even further, in tough spots. And there’s a reason for that.”
Of course, you could argue that the change in pitch speed is good for the game, as faster pitches can reward more aggressive play.
Medvedev will arrive in Turin for next month’s ATP Finals eyeing his first title since 2023 in Rome on red clay and his confidence in what is usually his comfort zone on the court difficult.
“I will reach I have no confidence, but try to build it, practice, the practice time I have,” said Medvedev. “Everything is very important. So I don’t know what’s more important, because yes, you play strong players.
“If you’re mentally like today, down 7-6 in the third, maybe physically — well, physically I wasn’t feeling too bad, but physically you have to be good because you’re going to play players who are physically ready.
“And the tennis still has to be good. You have to make a comeback winner when you need to, etc. So everything is important.”
