Daniil Medvedev uses Ben Shelton’s exit from the Monte Carlo Masters to explain an issue he has.
The Russian is competing in his first clay court tournament of the season, a surface he has struggled on over the course of his career.
Daniil Medvedev began his campaign with a three-set victory against Karen Khachanov, but rival Ben Shelton has already been eliminated.
The 22-year-old claimed the first set against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina before losing 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.
That was the American has now lost three successive matches and it will only get tougher as he adjusts to being back on his latest favourite surface.
Daniil Medvedev comments on Ben Shelton’s Monte Carlo Masters exit and complains about the balls
Medvedev booked his spot in the next round of the Monte Carlo Masters but he had to do it the hard way.
The 27-year-old was in control against his compatriot and though he claimed a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win, he could have sealed victory much earlier.
Medvedev was up 5-1 30-15 in set one, 4-1 in set two and he served for the match at 5-3 in the deciding set, before eventually closing out the match.
After the contest, Medvedev complained about the balls and thinks they contributed to Shelton’s defeat to Davidovich Fokina. “He played much, much better at one point. That is a fact,” Medvedev said.
“But let’s say I then looked at the other matches, there was Ben Shelton, who has maybe one of the best serves in the tour and he won three points on his serve in the third set and lost 2-1, having won twice on a break.
“It’s a cold day, the balls are generally awful and that it’s slow. I kind of ended up winning more points on the return than Karen on the serve! That is why the matches are all so up and down.”
Who is Daniil Medvedev’s next opponent?
Medvedev will be back in action on Wednesday when he faces Frenchman Alexandre Müller.
The 28-year-old opened his account in Monte Carlo with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
The pair have played each other just once before, and it took place at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
On that day Muller took the first set via a tiebreak, before Medvedev fought back to take the match 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-4 7-5.
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