The 27-year-old Russian had already reached this stage of the Major on grass in 2021, but he never went further. This year, to move into the quarters, he will have to dismiss the Czech Jiri Lehecka (37th) or the American Tommy Paul (15th). Wimbledon, where he was banned from participating last year, like other Russian and Belarusian players, due to Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, is Medvedev’s least successful Grand Slam tournament.
Winner of the US Open 2021, he was a finalist in Australia (2021 and 2022) and played quarterfinals at Roland-Garros (2021). Medvedev hadn’t reached the 1/8 finals in a Grand Slam since the US Open 2022 despite having reached at least that level in the seven Majors played in 2021 and 2022. Against Fucsovics, the Russian quickly lost his face-off in the first set by passing only one first ball out of the six points played to find himself trailing 2-1. The Hungarian kept his advantage until the end.
The match then swung in favor of Medvedev who took his opponent’s serve at the start of the second and then the third set and kept the advantage until the end each time. He did the same in the fourth set to break away 2-1 and at the change of sides, Fucsovics had his right ankle manipulated and bandaged. From there, and even if the Hungarian hung on with the support of the public, the outcome seemed inevitable.
Fucsovics saved two match points on his serve at 5-3 and managed to force Medvedev to serve for the game at 5-4. The Russian concluded with a service winner