Daniil Medvedev speaks on facing Sebastian Korda at Paris Masters

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World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev insisted he didn't expect to have an easy job against Ilya Ivashka at the Paris Masters. Medvedev, seeded at No. 2, saw off Ivashka 7-5 6-4 to reach the Paris round-of-16. "The last time we played he beat me at Davis Cup.

I’ve known him since the Futures and I knew that he’s a great player on the rise, so I knew it would not be easy,” Medvedev said, per the ATP website. “At the beginning of the match [my level] was good but in the middle of the match there were some things I could do better.

The most important thing is the victory. “It doesn’t matter how you play in the first round. The one who raises his level throughout the tournament is the one who will win it”.

Medvedev excited to face Sebastian Korda

Next up for Medvedev will be rising American star Korda, who beat former world No.

3 Marin Cilic. Medvedev and Korda have no previous meetings and the Russian is excited to clash one of the most promising players on the Tour. "It’s always exciting to play someone for the first time,” Medvedev said.

“We’ve never even practised together. He just had a great win over Marin who is coming off a tournament win, so I’m very excited to play him tomorrow”. On Wednesday, Medvedev struggled a bit against Ivashka but managed to claim a straight-set win.

Medvedev made a perfect start to the match, having taken an early 5-1 lead. However, Ivashka refused to quit as he saved three set points in the seventh game before earning back-to-back breaks to level the opener at five games apiece.

However, Medvedev kept his focus as he broke Ivashka again in the 11th game and served out for the opener in the following game. Medvedev then broke Ivashka in the third game of the second set and held on to his serve the rest of the way to book a straight-set win.