Daniil Medvedev Finding Form In Astana | ATP Tour

Daniil Medvedev has rounded into form this week at the Astana Open.

The second seed defeated big-hitting Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 event. Medvedev has not lost more than three games in a set through two matches in Kazakhstan.

Medvedev arrived in Astana on a two-match losing streak, following a fourth-round defeat at the US Open to Nick Kyrgios and an opening-round upset in Metz at the hands of three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka. But he has needed just two hours and 35 minutes to win two matches this week and make his ninth quarter-final of 2022.

The 26-year-old negated Ruusuvuori’s power with nearly flawless baseline play, making few unforced errors on the indoor hard court. He converted four of his nine break points to triumph after one hour and 15 minutes.

Medvedev was in full control for a large majority of the match. His only slip came at 6-3, 2-0, when he relinquished his serve by missing a forehand passing shot wide.

But Medvedev played dogged defence at 3-2 to recover his advantage. Ruusuvuori ended a long rally with a backhand into the net, and he was unable to recover again.

The former World No. 1 will next play Roberto Bautista Agut, who has proven a tough opponent for him in the past. The Spaniard leads their ATP Head2Head series 4-1, with three of his wins coming in straight sets. Medvedev’s only victory came earlier this year in Halle on grass. This will be the fifth ATP Tour quarter-final played between the pair.

The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion, Medvedev is trying to qualify for the season finale for the fourth consecutive season. He is fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, with Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas already qualified.

Did You Know?
Medvedev is now 14-1 on hard courts this season against players outside the Top 50 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. His only loss came to Wawrinka, a former World No. 3, in Metz.