Tennis Atlantic

Medvedev Edges Opelka in Late Night Citi Open Thriller
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

Daniil Medvedev needed two and a half hours, and the maximum three sets to defeat American Reilly Opelka, but in the end the experienced Russian took the match 6-7 6-3 7-6. Medvedev had a set point in the first set, that he didn’t take, even though he was steady on serve and saved break points in multiple games. In the second set Medvedev got a double break to force a third set. In that third set Opelka went up a break but quickly lost it, the American would have a match point in the ensuing third set tiebreak, but Medvedev saved it and took the match.

Other winners in round 1 men’s action included Lukas Lacko and Marius Copil over qualifiers Alexios Halebian and Sekou Bangoura in straight sets, Guido Pella over qualifier Ramkumar Ramanathan in straights, Yuki Bhambri via retirement against Stefan Kozlov, and Nicolas Mahut over Thomas Fabbiano in straight sets. Tommy Paul also outlasted young gun Casper Ruud, winning via retirement as Ruud wilted in the heat.

Henri Laaksonen pulled the upset against Vasek Pospisil 6-7 6-4 6-3, Laaksonen broke at the end of set 2, and then recovered from a break down in the third set to take the match, as Pospisil collapsed from 3-3 in the third. Donald Young defeated Tim Smyczek for the second time in as many weeks 4-6 6-3 6-4. Young got off to a slow start and was broken twice in the first set, but he broke in set 2, and then in a topsy turvy third set he got the final break of the match, saved two break points on his serve, and held his next service game to prevail.

Jared Donaldson also scored a comeback win, the American beat tour veteran Dudi Sela 6-7 6-4 6-3. He dropped the first set but was in control most of the match, he finally learned how to take advantage of Sela’s weak serve and score the win.

In WTA action Arnya Sabalenka upset Lauren Davis in straights, Julia Goerges beat Francoise Abanda in straights, Andrea Petkovic danced her way to a win against Kurumi Nara, Oceane Dodin upset Jelena Jankovic via retirement, Sara Errani beat Risa Ozaki in straights, Alison Van Uytvanck beat Jana Cepelova, Bianca Andreescu upset Camila Giorgi in three sets, and Mariana Duque-Marino beat Shelby Rogers in straights.