BREAKING: Daniil Medvedev has triumphed over Adam Walton at the Almaty Open, continuing his resurgence on the ATP Tour with a commanding performance. The match took place earlier today, and the former US Open champion displayed his strength once again, marking a second consecutive victory over an Australian player.
Walton, who recently climbed to No.3 in Australian rankings, was hoping to repeat his shocking victory over Medvedev from the Cincinnati Open in August. However, Medvedev, now 29 years old, fought back resiliently after losing the first set, ultimately securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
In a contest lasting one hour and 45 minutes, Medvedev faced significant challenges from Walton. After dropping the first set due to a break at 5-5, Walton surged to a 4-1 lead in the second. Yet, the pivotal moment came during Walton’s five break points, which he failed to convert on Medvedev’s serve. The Russian rallied to take the set to a tiebreak, which he dominated.
“It was a very tough match. The game at 1-4 was crucial because then I managed to break back and get back into my rhythm, so I am pleased to have defeated a tough opponent,” Medvedev stated post-match. His victory today adds to an impressive run, having won eight of his last ten matches, including recent semi-final appearances in Shanghai and Beijing.
Walton’s commendable performance in Kazakhstan could still lead to a career-high ranking, as he sits at No.73 in the live standings. Medvedev will next face Hungarian player Fabian Maroszan, who recently eliminated American Brandon Nakashima.
In other tournament news, fellow Australian Aleksandar Vukic has exited the competition after losing 6-3 6-2 to American Alex Michelsen. Australian qualifier James Duckworth remains the only Aussie in singles, preparing to take on third seed Flavio Cobboli in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in China, Alja Tomljanovic is set to face formidable opponent Elena Rybakina, the former Wimbledon champion, at the WTA’s Ningbo Open after her recent win against Dayana Yastremska.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Almaty Open and the Ningbo Open progress, with critical matches shaping the ATP and WTA rankings.
