Italian Open: Medvedev defeats Medjedovic to advance to the round of 16

Defending champion Daniil Medvedev faced a tough challenge in his Rome title defense on Monday, as he battled past qualifier Hamad Medjedovic in a grueling three-set match. The Russian second seed managed to secure a 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5 victory, setting up a clash with Tommy Paul in the last 16 at the Foro Italico.

Despite the win, Medvedev expressed his dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, “I’m not really pleased. I felt like I started the match well and then in a way it was only going downhill.” The world number two acknowledged the need to find his best tennis in the upcoming matches.

The men’s tournament in Rome has been left wide open by the exits of big-name players, including fourth seed Andrey Rublev, who suffered a shock defeat to French qualifier Alexandre Muller. With Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz also absent, the competition is heating up.

Reigning Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is still in contention after defeating Cameron Norrie, but he raised concerns about the impact of a demanding schedule on the top players. Meanwhile, seventh seed Hubert Hurkacz could potentially face Medvedev in the quarter-finals.

In the women’s event, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame Elina Svitolina in a thrilling match, setting up a quarter-final clash with Jelena Ostapenko. Svitolina once again refused to shake hands with Sabalenka, following their previous row at the 2023 French Open.

As the action continues in Rome, fans can expect more intense battles and surprising outcomes as the players vie for the prestigious titles.