A two-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev is safely through into the third round at the season’s first Major. Daniil faced the home favorite John Millman at Margaret Court Arena and produced a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory in two hours and 19 minutes.
The Aussie fought well in the opener before the Russian delivered a late break. It boosted Medvedev, and he stood as the only player on the court in sets two and three. Daniil fired ten aces and produced 33 winners and 32 unforced errors.
Former world no. 1 struggled behind the second serve big time and got broken three times from seven chances offered to Millman. The lower-ranked player needed more to stay competitive after giving away over half of the points behind the initial shot.
Daniil turned them into eight breaks from 13 opportunities, enough to seal the deal without spending too much time on the court. The Russian had a massive advantage in the shortest and most advanced rallies, struggling a bit in the mid-range ones but playing well overall.
Daniil Medvedev defeated John Millman in the Australian Open R2.
Daniil clinched an extended rally in the encounter’s first game to earn a break at love. Millman broke back in game two following the rival’s loose backhand and leveled the score at 1-1.
The Aussie hit a double fault in the third game to experience the second straight break and send the Russian 2-1 in front. Daniil landed an ace in the fourth game for the first hold and a 3-1 lead. John fought like a lion in the sixth game and seized his fourth break chance with a forehand winner to pull the break back and lock the result at 3-3.
The Aussie played better in those moments and had an opportunity to deliver his second break at 4-3. Millman missed a forehand, and Medvedev held for 4-4. Daniil grabbed an extended exchange in the ninth game and landed a forehand winner to grab a break and open a 5-4 gap.
The Russian squandered a set point on serve in game ten and netted a backhand to lose serve and bring the rival back to 5-5. Instead of building on that, Millman sprayed a forehand error in the 11th game to fall 6-5 behind.
Medvedev served for the set for the second time and claimed four straight points for 7-5 in 63 minutes. Daniil produced four comfortable holds in the second set and kept the pressure on the other side. He broke at love in the third game and held at 15 in the next one for 3-1.
Millman netted an easy forehand in the fifth game to lose serve again and fall further behind. Daniil served for the set at 5-2 and held after deuce to open two sets to love advantage after an hour and 47 minutes. Nothing changed in the third set, with a former finalist playing well in his games and waiting for chances on the return.
Millman netted a backhand in the first game to lose serve, and Medvedev held at love for 2-0. The Russian painted a backhand down the line winner in the fifth game to break his rival and open a 4-1 gap. John saved two match points on serve in the seventh game and brought it home to prolong the battle. Daniil stayed focused and fired an ace at 5-2 to seal the deal and sail into the third round.
