Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev has no time to think about how to return to the blazing prevalence of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Wednesday at the Dubai Championships.
Medvedev ranked sixth and still reached the quarterfinals in a 6-4, 6-4 win over the 21-year-old Frenchman.
Ask Russian players for service over 230 kph (143 mph).
“You don’t have time, so it’s a pure reflection that sometimes makes life easier because, as I said, you don’t think much,” Medvedev said in his on-field interview. “If you don’t return, you won’t even be disappointed. I missed some second ones and I’m disappointed. You just do your best and I did a great job today.”
Medvedev is the Dubai champion in 2023, breaking Mpetshi Perricard’s serve once in each group. The Frenchman made twice the non-compulsory mistake (44), and it was a winner, without creating any chance to break through.
Medvedev’s next step is Tallon Griekspoor, who beat defending champion Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic eliminated second seed Alex de Minaur in the first round, and he went to the quarterfinals by defeating Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The 36-year-old Croatian will face Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last four.
