On Saturday, Russian title favorite Daniil Medvedev beat Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets to go to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The world number two triumphed 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in 1hr 55min in hot circumstances to reach the last 16 for the fourth year in a row in Melbourne.
In the fourth round, Medvedev might face either Australian Chris O’Connell or American Maxime Cressy, fresh off a high-octane triumph against home favorite Nick Kyrgios two days earlier.
“I was hoping you were going to be a little bit easier on me you guys,” Medvedev joked to the crowd after he was booed by sections of the pro-Kyrgios crowd on Thursday.
“I’ll put it this way, it’s easier to play a guy from the Netherlands than a guy from Australia in Australia in Melbourne.
“Every good relationship must have its ups and downs so I think it’s good, it’s entertaining and it’s real, there is some relationship going on.”
“It’s not everyone doing it, but individuals who are doing it probably have a low IQ,” the Russian 25-year-old said later, referring to some of the spectators’ actions during the tumultuous Kyrgios match.
In the third game, Medvedev broke and fought off a breakpoint before serving out the first set.
In the third game, the Russian broke and held to grab a two-set lead, increasing his grip on the contest.
With the finish line in sight, Medvedev eased through the gears and grabbed another serve in the fifth game of the third set.
Medvedev took a double break on a blazing return and served out for a comfortable victory.
In the absence of exiled defending champion Novak Djokovic, Medvedev, the runner-up a year ago, is the title favorite and seeking back-to-back Grand Slam titles after defeating the Serb in the US Open final.
