Medvedev toughs it out again with Mannarino

Past results are no guarantee for the future. But the challenge that Adrian Mannarino posed to Daniil Medvedev in the past made it no surprise that the number one seed had a tough time again with the 2019 Libéma Open champion. It took more than two hours for Medvedev to put his 7-6(6) 6-4 victory on the scoreboard.

Remarkable is not only that it was 4-4 in the mutual duels prior to today’s encounter. In fact, it was already the fourth time the men had faced each other at Libéma Open. ‘I have never played so many times against the same player in the same tournament in my opinion,’ Medvedev said after his ace on match point in the on-court interview. ‘A couple of points brought the decision and I am happy that it is now 2-2 between us at this tournament.’

Medvedev, who is thus now 5-4 overall against Mannarino in their clashes, will play the quarterfinals on Friday. In that, a very different kind of challenge awaits the former world number one. For then he will take on the service violence of Reilly Opelka, a lucky loser just like Mannarino, by the way.