Russian Daniil Medvedev, 3rd player in the world, qualified for the second round of the US Open on Tuesday, easily beating Hungarian Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0. Sacred at Flushing Meadows in 2021, Medvedev will face in the second round the winner of the duel between Australians Max Purcell (N.43) or Christopher O’Connell (69th in the world).
Facing the 34-year-old Hungarian, whose best ATP ranking (76th) dates back to 2020, Medevedev made the entry break to lead 2-0 and win the first set 6-1. He hardly left his opponent more chance in the next two sets to fold the meeting in 1h14.
Winner at Flushing Meadows in 2021, beating Djokovic, whom he had deprived of the Grand Slam that season, the 27-year-old Russian is considered one of the few who can disrupt the expected scenario of a new confrontation in the final between the 36-year-old Serb and Carlos Alcaraz, 20. The draw put Medvedev in the table for the Spaniard, who enters contention on Tuesday night, and they could meet in the semi-finals.