Daniil Medvedev emerged victorious in a grueling five-set match against wildcard Kasidit Samrej at the Australian Open, overcoming both an unexpected challenge and his own frustrations. The match concluded with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, as Medvedev demonstrated resilience to advance to the second round. He is set to face Learner Tien, a promising 19-year-old American player.
Medvedev, a three-time finalist and last year's runner-up, faced a surprisingly tough opponent in Samrej, who is ranked 418th in the world. Throughout the match, Medvedev's frustration grew, culminating in an outburst at the end of the third set. The Russian player damaged a camera positioned at the center of the net and broke his racket. This incident occurred after a fortunate shot by Samrej clipped the net, forcing Medvedev into a difficult sprint for the ball. Samrej later apologized for the lucky shot that sparked Medvedev's outburst.
The chair umpire issued a warning to Medvedev for racket abuse following his actions. Despite this setback, Medvedev regained his composure and executed a strong comeback, winning the last two sets convincingly. His ability to refocus and secure victory underscored his status as one of the tournament's top contenders.
Kasidit Samrej came close to achieving a significant milestone in his debut grand slam event. His performance against Medvedev showcased his potential, even as he fell short of claiming what would have been the biggest win of his career.
In his post-match interview, Medvedev appeared in good spirits, reflecting on both the match and Samrej's performance.
“If he plays like this every match, his life can be good – money, girls, casino, whatever,” – Daniil Medvedev
This statement highlighted Medvedev's acknowledgment of Samrej's skill and potential.
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