January 14, 2025
Daniil Medvedev is up and running once again at the Australian Open.
The three-time finalist at Melbourne Park averted one of the biggest upsets in recent Grand Slam history on Tuesday by rallying to a 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 first-round triumph against World No. 418 Kasidit Samrej.
Medvedev rescued an at-times wayward performance with some typically rock-solid play in the fourth and fifth sets to wear down an opponent who simultaneously began to struggle physically under the Melbourne sun.
“I watched his matches and didn’t see this level, so I was surprised,” acknowledged Medvedev in his on-court interview. “If he plays like this every match, life can be good… I wish he can play like this every match. [Not] if I’m facing him. You need to be consistent to make it in tennis, and I wish this for him.”
“I know that I play better when I play more tennis. So I was like, ‘Why play one hour, 30 [minutes], I need minimum three hours to feel my shots better and have a good sensation’,” joked Medvedev. “But speaking seriously, in the second and third sets I couldn’t touch the ball, no power or anything. I didn’t know what to do.”
A three-time finalist at Melbourne Park, Medvedev will hope to raise his level for his second-round match. His opponent will be another event debutant, Learner Tien. The 2024 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF finalist earlier overcame Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
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