DUBAI: The ATP 500 week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships continued to showcase thrilling matches as Daniil Medvedev demonstrated remarkable precision, defeating China’s Juncheng Shang decisively in a mere hour. The third seed and reigning champion cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 victory, setting up a last-16 encounter with Stan Wawrinka.
The 21-year-old Shang, currently ranked World No. 262, has shown glimpses of potential in recent months despite facing typical challenges of a young athlete. Earlier this year, he reached the quarterfinals in Hong Kong, indicating a promising path ahead, although he has struggled with consistency since, losing three of his last four matches, including the earlier loss to Medvedev in Doha.
In their rematch, Medvedev controlled the match effectively, hitting 20 winners and 10 aces while dominating from the baseline. His serve proved particularly formidable, winning 81 percent of first-serve points and leading to Shang’s second consecutive defeat.
“I tried to play the same tactic as last week because if it works, you need to stick to it,” Medvedev explained. “I knew he would try to adapt, so I focused on adjusting to his adaptations.” Despite the scoreline, there were moments of resistance from Shang, highlighted by a notable 34-shot rally that delighted the audience, with Medvedev ultimately claiming the point.
Reflecting on his performance leading into a prestigious tournament featuring former Dubai champions and several top 20 players, Medvedev expressed that he feels more at peace than overly confident. “I won 6-1, 6-3, so if we don’t analyze every point too closely, it’s generally a good level,” he remarked, looking forward to his next match and aiming to elevate his game further.
Shortly after Medvedev’s post-match comments, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, ranked No. 10 and this week’s No. 2 seed, made his entrance onto the Centre Court, eager to commence his campaign against “lucky loser” Jan-Lennard Struff. Bublik displayed poise, overcoming previous challenges against Struff and capitalizing on early chances to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Bublik broke Struff’s serve right away and maintained the advantage, showcasing his strong serve with six aces while saving three breakpoints. Struff, though competitive and ranked significantly lower, struggled to overcome Bublik’s momentum.
“I think I played a solid match,” Bublik commented, reflecting on his approach and known weaknesses against Struff. “It’s never easy facing Jan, but I knew how to execute my shots to create winning opportunities.”
Bublik, who recently reached a career-high ranking, remains focused on his performance rather than numbers. “It’s just a number, and if you play well, you’ll have a better ranking,” he stated. “What matters most is maintaining my game and enjoying the moment.”
As the tournament progresses, the competition promises to deliver more exciting matches, with players aiming not only for victory but also to enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.