By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday March 25, 2023
Daniil Medvedev eased through his first test at the Miami Open, dropping just three games in the process.
Photo Source: Getty
If Daniil Medvedev can make a final at Indian Wells, while making no secrets about the fact that he absolutely hated the playing conditions in the California Desert, what can the Russian do now that he’s taken a flight across the country and set himself up on the faster-playing surface at the Miami Open?
If Saturday night’s 6-1, 6-2 beatdown of Roberto Carballes Baena is any indication, watch out.
Medvedev has made the final at every hard court Masters except for Miami, but the two-time quarterfinalist continues to show world-beating form as he improved his record to 25-3 on the season, with 20 wins in his last 21.
Sunday’s lopsided loss to Carlos Alcaraz is still strong in the mind of the tennis-watching public, and no doubt Medvedev as well, but the No.4 seed is comfortably tucked into the lower half of the draw, with a third-round match with Alex Molcan looming.
If he advances, he could face either Mackenzie McDonald or Quentin Halys in the round of 16.
It’s a good setup for the 2021 US Open champion and it might not even be a necessary one. He’s the man to beat in his half, no matter who he faces.
Medvedev was quick out of the gates against Carballes Baena, and once he saved an early break point he was absolutely dominant. He dropped just 12 points on serve and converted each of the four break points he saw to close his victory in 62 minutes
A dazzling start for a player with big designs on another showdown with Carlos Alcaraz at the end of next week - it just might happen.