Daniil Medvedev is through to the last eight in Dubai. The 2023 champion of the ATP 500 event faced Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round and earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory in an hour and 22 minutes. It was a match with a striking diversity!
The top-10 player tamed his strokes nicely and hit 12 winners and five unforced errors. The Frenchman attacked and fired 22 winners, only at a cost of 44 unforced mistakes, missing equally from both wings. Giovanni hit three service winners more than Daniil.
However, the former champion took charge from the baseline and forged a 38-11 buffer! The attacking youngster rushed to the net 29 times and claimed 19 points, 15 more than the baseline master! However, it was not enough to keep him in contention.
The 🧱 WALL 🧱 Daniil Medvedev as Mpetshi serves perfectly 😤pic.twitter.com/BYGKnZG631
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) February 26, 2025
Daniil served at only 50% and still claimed 16 points more than his opponent. The Russian dropped one point behind the first serve and kept his rival away from break chances. Mpetshi Perricard sprayed six double faults and lost 39% of the points in his games.
The young gun played against ten break chances, defending eight but hitting the exit door. The Frenchman hit a loose forehand in the first game of the duel and experienced two break points. He denied them with service winners and held with another to avoid an early setback.
Daniil Medvedev & Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
Medvedev held at 30 in his first service game and held everything under control in the upcoming ones. Giovanni grabbed the fifth game with a service winner and mirrored that two games later for a 4-3 lead. However, he faced issues at 4-4.
The giant server denied a break point with an unreturned serve and squandered two game points with risky second serves. Daniil failed to return the rival’s serve on the second break point but stayed composed and generated the third.
Daniil Medvedev, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
They embraced an exchange, and Mpetshi Perricard landed a forehand long to drop serve and fall 5-4 behind. The former champion served for the opener in game ten and held at love with an unreturned serve for 6-4 in 39 minutes.
Medvedev dropped only a couple of points in five service games of the second set, and the young gun could not endure until the tie break. Mpetshi Perricard closed the third game with a service winner and landed a rare backhand winner two games later for 3-2.
Daniil landed an ace in the sixth game for 3-3 and stepped in on the return in game seven. He returned a couple of serves and created two break chances. He missed a forehand on the second and allowed his rival to bring the game home and remain in contention.
Daniil Medvedev, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
The Russian held at love in game eight for 4-4 and made another push on the return in the next one. The Frenchman sent a forehand long and faced a break point. He saved it with a volley winner and defended the second with another.
World no. 6 created the third chance after an extended rally and welcomed the rival’s double fault to secure a crucial break and move 5-4 in front. Daniil served for the win in game ten and held after a wayward backhand from his rival, moving over the top in style and remaining on the title course.
Tennis World USA