Daniil Medvedev reaches US Open second round

Daniil Medvedev has avoided another first-round exit at the US Open by advancing to the second round. The Russian seventh seed, who won the tournament in 2021, began this year’s campaign with a composed performance against France’s Hugo Gaston after departing at the opening stage last year.

Medvedev won 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. He produced 34 winners to Gaston’s 11 and consistently applied pressure, taking advantage of errors from the Frenchman. Gaston’s attempts to disrupt the rhythm with drop shots and underarm serves did not prevent Medvedev from controlling the match.

The decisive moments came through breaks in each set. Medvedev took advantage of a backhand mistake to create an opportunity in the seventh game of the opening set, raised his level to secure two breaks in the second, and broke immediately in the third. He completed the victory with an unreturned ace.

The result comes days after Medvedev’s early defeat in Winston-Salem, following which he joked about possibly taking up pickleball. His next US Open opponent will be either American wild card Sebastian Gorzny or Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.