Daniil Medvedev, the fifth seed, was pushed to the brink by wildcard entrant Kasidit Samrej in a thrilling first-round match at the Australian Open. Despite trailing two sets to one, Medvedev rallied to secure a five-set victory, averting what would have been one of the biggest upsets in Grand Slam history.
Daniil Medvedev , the fifth seed, narrowly escaped what would have been one of the biggest upsets in Grand Slam history against 418th-ranked Kasidit Samrej . Despite trailing against a player ranked significantly lower, Medvedev eventually prevailed, winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday. Medvedev's performance was inconsistent throughout the match.
While he dominated the first set, he struggled in the second and third sets against Samrej, a wildcard entry from Thailand making his Grand Slam debut. 'I know I play better when I play more tennis,' Medvedev joked after the match, 'So I was like, 'Why play 1 hour, 30 (minutes)?' Need a minimum of three hours, at least, to feel my shots better.'The most dramatic moment came in the last game of the third set, which Samrej seemed poised to take, establishing a two-sets-to-one lead in the best-of-five match. Medvedev's frustration boiled over after losing a 13-stroke point, trailing 40-15. Samrej's shot clipped the net, altering its trajectory and throwing off Medvedev's balance. A cross-court forehand passing winner left Medvedev unable to make contact. Medvedev proceeded to smash his racket against the net post five times, breaking his equipment and shattering a small black camera in the process. This outburst earned him a code violation warning for racket abuse from the chair umpire. Medvedev quickly regrouped after the third set, claiming 12 of the remaining 15 games and 61 of the remaining 94 points. He attributed this turnaround to 'new energy' for the new year, stating that in the previous year, he likely would have lost the match. Medvedev's victory prevented Samrej from achieving the feat of becoming the lowest-ranked man to eliminate one of the top five seeded players at a Grand Slam tournament since the ATP's computerized rankings began in 1973. Samrej, who battled his way through four rounds of a wild-card playoff in November to secure his place in the Australian Open bracket, had never faced an opponent ranked higher than 78th prior to Tuesday's match and had never defeated anyone ranked higher than 157th. Medvedev acknowledged Samrej's impressive performance, saying, 'I watched his matches, and I didn't see this level, so I was surprised. If he plays like this every match, his life will be good.
Australian Open Daniil Medvedev Kasidit Samrej Upset Grand Slam Tennis
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Medvedev Loses Cool, Smashes Camera in Australian Open WinDaniil Medvedev, despite a fiery outburst and a two-set deficit, rallied to defeat Kasidit Samrej in the first round of the Australian Open. Medvedev smashed a camera attached to the net after losing a lengthy point, earning a code violation.
Read more »
Medvedev Smash Cameras After Tense Australian Open WinDaniil Medvedev won his opening match at the Australian Open in a five-set thriller against Kasidit Samrej, but not without some drama. Frustrated by a lucky net shot from Samrej, Medvedev smashed a camera attached to the net, resulting in a warning for racket abuse.
Read more »
Medvedev Slams Camera After Losing Set at Australian OpenTennis star Daniil Medvedev smashed a tiny camera attached to the net during his Australian Open match against Kasidit Samrej. The incident occurred while Medvedev was trailing in the five-set thriller.
Read more »
Hiker Survives Two Weeks Lost in Australian MountainsA 23-year-old medical student, Hadi Nazari, survived for two weeks in the Australian wilderness after getting lost during a hike. He was found alive, relying on berries, creek water, and a few muesli bars.
Read more »
Hiker Survives Two Weeks Lost in Australian MountainsA 23-year-old medical student from Melbourne, Australia, survived for two weeks in the remote Kosciuszko National Park after becoming lost while hiking.
Read more »
Rolex honors anniversary of Rod Laver Arena ahead of Australian OpenWith a roster of star athletes, including Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner and Chinese tennis player Qinwen Zheng, representing the Swiss watchmaker, it continues to play a pivotal role in celebrating the sport's finest moments.
Read more »