Daniil Medvedev has an average preparation for Roland-Garros (May 26 – June 9). Eliminated in the round of 16 in Monte-Carlo, he retired in the first set in the quarterfinals in Madrid due to a right hip injury. And on Tuesday in Rome, the defending champion missed out completely, beaten easily (6-1, 6-4) by the American Tommy Paul (14th), who won his first quarter in a Masters 1000 on clay.
Medvedev quickly appeared casual, unrecognizable and unconcerned. The Russian, 3rd in the world, took the first game, breaking the American from the start, but he then conceded the following six games and therefore the first set.
22 unforced errors
Then he broke at the start of the second set to lead 2-0, but it didn’t last. Still amorphous, he made a series of mistakes (22 in total for 8 small winning shots) and gave in with a final backhand error, without giving the impression of having fought.
Paul, very solid, will be opposed to the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (9th), stunning Tuesday against Sebastian Baez (5-7, 7-6 [4]6-4), for a place in the semi-finals.
