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The 2019 Shanghai Masters champion Daniil Medvedev made a winning start at the season's penultimate Masters 1000 event. Daniil took down Cristian Garin 6-3, 6-3 in an hour and 31 minutes, celebrating his 60th ATP win of the season and becoming the second player to achieve that in 2023 after Carlos Alcaraz.
The Russian hit seven aces and six double faults, making the difference with his first serve. The Chilean claimed over 60% of the points on the second serve return, but it was not enough to keep him safe. Garin dropped half of the points in his games, losing ground in the pivotal moments.
Medvedev denied seven out of nine break points, stealing the rival's serve five times from nine opportunities and emerging at the top. Daniil landed 18 service winners and tamed his strokes nicely, welcoming Cristian's 25 unforced errors.
The Chilean stayed in touch with the Russian in the shortest and mid-range exchanges. However, Daniil earned the victory in the most advanced rallies.
Daniil Medvedev is the second player with 60 wins in 2023.
They held at love in the encounter's opening games before Medvedev stepped in on the return in the third game.
Garin missed a game point and got broken after a loose forehand. Instead of building on that, Daniil hit a double fault in the fourth game, losing serve at 15 and bringing Cristian back to 2-2. The Russian lost the ground a bit behind the initial shot, offering his opponent three more break chances in game six.
Medvedev denied them and landed a service winner to lock the result at 3-3. The Chilean lost serve in the seventh game after a double fault, and the Russian opened a 5-3 gap with an ace down the T line in the next one. Garin struggled on serve again in the ninth game, offering Medvedev three set points.
World no. 3 clinched the last after the rival's loose forehand, opening a 6-3 gap after 47 minutes. Daniil produced two fine holds at the beginning of the second set and forged a massive 4-0 advantage with a double break. Medvedev claimed an extended rally in the second game for an early break and moved 4-0 up after Garin's double fault.
The Chilean earned five break points in the fifth game, pulling one break back after the Russian's wild forehand. Daniil opened a 5-2 gap with a booming serve in game seven, serving for the victory at 5-3. World no. 3 sealed the deal with an unreturned serve, celebrating his 60th win of the season and advancing into the third round.