Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev (#2) won’t have the opportunity to improve upon his 2019 result – a semi-final finish in Monaco – after withdrawing from the Masters 1000 tournament, after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier today. Lucky loser Juan Ignacio Londero takes his place, and will play Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic for a place in round three tomorrow.
False start: Medvedev’s clay court season delayed
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal make their returns to court tomorrow, but this year’s Australian Open finalist – and new world number two – Medvedev is forced to watch helplessly in isolation.
In a brief ATP statement, they confirmed the 25-year-old had been moved into isolation and will be monitored by the tournament physician as well as members of their medical team.
“It’s a big disappointment not to play in Monte-Carlo. My focus is now on recovery and I look forward to getting back out on Tour as soon and as safely as possible.”
He was slated to partner Brazil’s Marcelo Demoliner against Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin in doubles, but that first-round matchup has swiftly been cancelled too.
The clay-court tournament, cancelled this time last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is back with no fans in attendance this time around. Medvedev overcame Stefanos Tsitsipas and Djokovic in three sets each, but ultimately lost to Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic during the 2019 edition.
Articles have already been written with regards to the path Nadal must navigate beyond to reclaim his world no. 2 ranking, which he lost last month.
After a first-round berth, he must reach the Final but could face Dimitrov, Medvedev’s compatriot Andrey Rublev and Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman en route to a place in this weekend’s finale.
Tuesday’s results
French wildcard Lucas Pouille bounced back from successive defeats to stun Argentina’s Guido Pella, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tsitsipas – a Melbourne semi-finalist this year – successfully eased past Russian sensation Aslan Karatsev, similarly dropping seven games in an hour and 24 minutes.
Eighth seed Matteo Berrettini was knocked out by Spain’s young talent Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat him 7-5, 6-3 in 90 minutes. Italian teenage talent Jannik Sinner will face Djokovic on his return tomorrow, after beating Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in straight-sets.
Results elsewhere in the draw
Marco Cecchinato beat Dominik Koepfer, 6-4, 6-3
Federico Delbonis bt. Adrian Mannarino, 7-5, 6-1
Fabio Fognini bt. Miomir Kecmanovic, 6-2, 7-5
Roberto Bautista Agut bt. Taylor Fritz, 6-2, 7-5
Alexei Popyrin bt. Pablo Andujar, 0-6, 6-2, 7-6
Casper Ruud bt. Holger Rune 6-2, 6-1
Grigor Dimitrov bt. Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4
Karen Khachanov bt. Laslo Dere 6-4, 6-1
Lorenzo Sonego bt. Marton Fucsovics 6-3, 6-4
Pablo Carreno Busta bt Stefano Travaglia 7-5, 7-6
Filip Krajinovic bt. Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 2-0 (retired with injury)
Picture source: Getty Images
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