Daniil Medvedev made an impressive start at the Shanghai Masters. The 2019 champion recovered from physical issues he had a couple of days ago in Beijing and ousted Dalibor Svrcina 6-1, 6-1 in an hour.
The Russian reduced the Czech to only 23 points and dominated on serve and return. Daniil landed in 83% of the first serve and dropped seven points in his games, offering his rival no break points.
Svrcina failed to follow that pace. The 23-year-old gave away 63% of the points in his games and suffered five breaks from nine chances presented to the favorite.
Medvedev tamed his strokes superbly and landed 22 winners and nine unforced errors. Dalibor landed only five direct points and sprayed 18 mistakes, missing equally from both wings.
Daniil overpowered his rival from the baseline and played flawless tennis at the net while dominating the shortest and more extended exchanges. The Russian closed the opening game of the duel with a powerful serve.
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The Czech landed a backhand wide in the second game to suffer a break and fall behind. The 2019 champion painted a forehand down the line winner in the third game and extended the lead.
The 16th seed held at love in the fifth game for 4-1 and made another push on the return in the next one. Svrcina sprayed a backhand error on the fourth break point to suffer another break and fall 5-1 behind.
The former champion held at love in game seven, wrapping up the first part of the duel in half an hour. Daniil grabbed another break in the first game of the second set after a deep return and landed an ace a few minutes later for a 2-0 lead.
Medvedev closed the fourth game with a forced error and opened a 3-1 gap. Dalibor sprayed a backhand mistake in the fifth game, experiencing a break at love and moving closer to the exit door.
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Medvedev grabbed the sixth game with a backhand crosscourt winner and landed a volley winner on the return at 5-1 to emerge at the top in style and make a winning start.
