Daniil Medvedev is off to a great start in 2026. The former world number one defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals. He faced no break points and converted three to overtake 30th-ranked Tiafoe within an hour.
“Francis is a very difficult opponent,” Medvedev said. “A player who was once a top-10 player and can play well any time. No matter where he is ranked, he can have a tough battle with the top players.
“So I’m happy with the way I’m serving. I think I put a lot of pressure on him on my serve, and then I always throw some returns into the game. So when I serve that well, it’s a little bit of extra pressure on his serve. I managed to take advantage of it. Playing great, happy, full of anticipation.”
Medvedev, 29, will face either Riley Opelka or Kamil Makhzak in the quarterfinals.
The former U.S. Open champion has lost just ten matches over two rounds. He defeated Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3 in his first match.
Medvedev’s difficult 2025 season has been much talked about, but the Russian himself is keen to put the memories behind him.
“Physically, I struggled a little bit,” he said of the 2025 season, which saw him go 41-23 and drop to No. 18 in the ATP rankings. “For example, even towards the end of my tennis career, my fitness could have been better and I think some tournaments took a toll on me because I also started playing more tournaments because I needed to chase rankings and stuff like that, so I was a little bit tired.
“I’ve had good results in pre-season and my conditioning has been good. I’m feeling fresh. The two games I’ve played, well, have been just over an hour, so the real test will of course be in these three-hour or longer games. But I’m happy with the way I’m feeling and moving on the field, and that’s the most important thing.”
In other matches, defending champion Jiri Lehecka was forced to retire early in the second set against Sebastian Korda due to an ankle injury (6-3 1-2).
Korda will next face Alex Michelsen, who defeated Learner Tien 6-4, 6-2.
