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Daniil Medvedev is into the Miami Open round four after dropping only three games! The Russian received a bye in the opening round and ousted Roberto Carballes Baena in the second. Medvedev should have played against Alex Molcan in the third round, but the Slovak withdrew due to a hip injury.
An in-form Russian will face Quentyn Halys or Mackenzie McDonald in the fourth round, seeking another good result and chasing his first final in Florida. Daniil had been struggling for a year following the last year's Australian Open final.
He experienced an early loss in Melbourne this January and turned the page. The Russian reached four consecutive finals in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai and Indian Wells, winning three titles and rattling off 19 straight wins. Carlos Alcaraz ended his streak in the Indian Wells final following a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory in 70 minutes!
A teenager grabbed an early break and controlled the pace from start to finish to lift his third Masters 1000 crown and write the record books.
Daniil Medvedev received a walkover from Alex Molcan in Miami.
Carlos did everything right behind the initial shot, never experiencing issues in his games and mounting the pressure on the other side.
Daniil stood powerless against such a strong rival, failing to impose his strokes and move the opponent away from his comfort zone. The Russian lost serve three times from as many chances offered to the Spaniard to settle with the runner-up prize.
He played defensive tennis and stayed under ten winners, never looking like a serious competitor. Medvedev made a fresh start in Miami and beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes. The Russian served well and grabbed four return games from as many chances to control the scoreboard and sail into the next round.
Medvedev hit 18 winners and 13 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and reducing Carballes Baena to five direct points. The better-ranked opponent had the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges to emerge at the top quickly and make a winning start.
The Spaniard created his only break point in the encounter's third game with a deep return, and the Russian denied it after the rival's loose forehand. Medvedev cracked a backhand down the line winner in the fourth game for two break chances and seized the first with a forehand crosscourt winner at the net for 3-1.
Daniil placed an ace on the T line in the fifth game for a hold at love and a 4-1 advantage. Firing from all cylinders, Medvedev grabbed another break in game six after Carballes Baena's backhand mistake and served for the set at 5-1.
Daniil held at 15 in game seven and made a reliable start to the second. Medvedev broke at love in the first game and clinched the second with a service winner for 6-1, 2-0 in 40 minutes. The Russian broke again in game five to extend the gap and held at 30 with a service winner to forge a 5-1 advantage and force the rival to serve to stay in the match.
Roberto fired a service winner in the seventh game to bring it home and reduce the deficit to 5-2. Daniil served for the victory in the eighth game and held at love with a smash winner at the net to emerge at the top in style. Medvedev should be the favorite against Halys or McDonald, especially if he brings his best tennis.
