Medvedev Advances, Upset Shakes Up Hangzhou ATP 250

Hangzhou, China – Daniil Medvedev began his quest for a title at the ATP 250 tournament in Hangzhou with a convincing victory on Saturday. Competing for the first time since parting ways with his long-time coach, Medvedev defeated qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy 6-2, 6-3.

The former world No. 1 expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was a great match for me. I’m happy with the way I played, with the way I served. I have not been winning a lot of matches, so I’m happy to win.” Medvedev, who now works with coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, aims to bounce back after a difficult season.

In a match lasting 76 minutes, Medvedev showed dominance, winning nine consecutive games after the score was 2-2 in the first set. Despite a brief setback when he was broken while serving for the match at 5-1 in the second set, he quickly closed it out, successfully converting four of the eight break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Medvedev improved his season record to 27-18 with this win. He noted his plans to stay longer in Hangzhou, saying, “I really like the city, I’ve enjoyed it here, so I’m happy to stay for a couple more days.” His next challenge will be against local favorite Zheng Qinwen, who overcame a tough match to advance.

Meanwhile, the tournament saw a major upset when French qualifier Royer stunned top seed Andrey Rublev, winning 6-4, 7-6(2). Royer celebrated his victory, saying, “Oh my god, I don’t know what to say right now. I’m just so happy with my game… It was an unbelievable atmosphere today.” This win marked Royer’s first victory against a top 20 player.

As he advances to the quarter-finals, Royer aims for another upset, having already secured back-to-back ATP Tour wins for the first time in his career. The competition continues to heat up as players vie for a title in Hangzhou.