Madrid — Daniil MedvedevImpressive performance this season suffers setback after straight sets loss to qualifiers aslan kartsev in the fourth round of the Madrid Open on Tuesday.
The 121st-ranked Kartsev cruised to a 7-6(1), 6-4 win over second seed Medvedev for his first win against a top-10 opponent since 2021.
Medvedev entered the match with a tour-leading 33-4 record this year. The 29-year-old Karatsev is a former No. 14 in the world and has won his last three Tour titles in Sydney last year.
“I feel great, playing well,” said Karatsev. “I just have to focus on each match, so I’ll be ready for the next one.”
the russians will play next either taylor fritz Or Zhang Zhizhen in the quarterfinals.
Another Russian advancing to the last eight Karen Khachanovwho beat a doubles partner Andrey Rublev 7-6 (8), 6-4 after saving two set points in the tiebreaker and breaking serve early in the second set.
The knockout of fifth-ranked Rublev marked Khachanov’s first win against a top-10 opponent on clay since 2019.
“It is always difficult to play against each other, because on one hand we know each other’s game perfectly, because we have been training together for so many years,” said Khachanov, ranked 12th. “At the same time, we know what to expect, but we’re definitely a little nervous to play against each other. We’re good friends.”
The Russians had also met three weeks earlier in Monte Carlo, when Rublev won on his way to capturing his first Masters 1000 title.
“The tiebreak (in Madrid) was really important,” Khachanov said. “I would say, it’s the same as it was in Monte Carlo. He took the first set in a tiebreak and started to feel more confident in the second set.”
Khachanov improved his win-loss record to 19–0 in 2023 after winning the first set. His next opponent in Madrid will be either the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or 13th rank alexander zverevWhom met late on Tuesday night.
Khachanov and Rublev made it to the doubles quarterfinals, where jamie murray And Michael Venus wait
Khachanov said, “This (singles) match is over.” “Maybe we need some time to digest it. It was like that in Monte Carlo. The day before, we played doubles, we lost a very tough match, and then the next day he beat me. After a day, life He goes away.” But. He’s doing well this year, I’m doing well, I’m just happy.”
Also reached the quarterfinals Daniel Altmayerwho defeated Joume Munar 6-3, 6-0.
Munar was upset by a call that put him 3–0 down in the final set. He challenged this and was enraged when the verdict was passed against him, saying: “I will destroy this machine. How is this possible? The mark is clear.”
He went courtside to some tour officials and argued with them about the challenge system, telling them “we’re playing for 80,000 euros ($87,600) here.”
