Will Medvedev Continue His Winning Streak in the Australian Open?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Medvedev's strong start: He remains undefeated in 2026.
- Break point success: Converted 54% of break points.
- Next challenge: Medvedev faces Quentin Halys in the second round.
- Post-match recovery: Emphasized the importance of cooling down.
- Desire for improvement: Aiming for a better performance in the next match.
Melbourne, Jan 19 (NationPress) Former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev demonstrated impressive form on Monday at the Australian Open, easily overcoming Jesper de Jong with a score of 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2) to move on to the second round.
Medvedev commenced his year by clinching the Brisbane International title, successfully converting seven out of 13 break points against De Jong. This win signifies his perfect start to the 2026 season, with an unblemished record of 6-0, as reported by ATP.
Despite some lapses, Medvedev triumphed over the World No. 73 in their inaugural meeting, completing the match in two hours and 53 minutes. He faced challenges by relinquishing a break lead twice in the first set and failing to serve out the match two times in the third set, yet he maintained his composure and controlled the decisive tie-break at the Margaret Court Arena.
Following a tough 2025 season with only one Grand Slam victory, Medvedev concluded the previous year on a high note, winning an ATP 250 title in Almaty. His next opponent will be Quentin Halys, who prevailed against Alejandro Tabilo in straight sets.
"Last year, I was eliminated in the first round of nearly every major event, except here, so I’m pleased to win in straight sets, even if some segments were inconsistent. The conditions felt sluggish, resulting in frequent breaks of serve from both sides. The key takeaway is the win, and I hope to perform better in the next round," Medvedev stated during his on-court interview.
He expressed his eagerness for a post-match ice bath, noting, "It is warm, but I felt fine and I think he may have been struggling a bit more than I was... Hopefully, we won't encounter worse conditions than what we faced today. A bit of an ice bath is always refreshing after such a warm match."