Daniil Medvedev is off to a great start at the ATP 250 event in Hangzhou. The 2nd seed faced Nishesh Basavareddy in the second round and scored a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory in an hour and 15 minutes.
The Russian is playing his first tournament without Gilles Cervara as his coach in nearly ten years. He decided to make a fresh start after mediocre results in 2025 and many on-court tantrums.
It's so far so good for the former Major champion in China, as he dominated the American on serve and return. Daniil clinched 18 points more than his opponent.
He lost serve once from the only break point offered to his rival and kept the pressure on the other side after taking nearly half of the return points. Nishesh played against eight break points and hit the exit door after dropping serve four times.
Medvedev landed 26 winners and 16 unforced errors while having the upper hand in service winners and at the net. They served well in the opening five games of the match and closed them in 16 minutes.
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Daniil stepped in on the return at 3-2 and drew the rival's mistake for two break points. Basavareddy sprayed a forehand error on the second, losing serve and falling behind.
The Russian made another push on the return at 5-2 and forced the American'sforehand error, rattling off four games and bringing the opening set home in 31 minutes. The 2nd seed took charge and carried that boost to the second set.
He landed an ace in the first game for a hold at love and fired a forehand crosscourt winner in the next one for a break and a 2-0 lead. Daniil landed a crafty volley winner for 3-0 and welcomed the rival's double fault in the next one to extend his streak.
The 2nd seed painted a forehand down the line winner in game five, rattling off nine games and moving 5-0 in front. Basavareddy saved a match point on serve in the sixth game and extended the battle.
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The young American secured his only break in the seventh game after the Russian's double fault. Nishesh faced two more match points on serve in game eight, denying them and reducing the gap to 5-3.
However, Daniil made no errors at 5-3, landing an ace on his fourth match point and sealing the deal in style.
