Defending champion Medvedev starts strong at Shanghai Masters

SHANGHAI: Defending champion Daniil Medvedev made a strong start to the Shanghai Masters on Satur-day, with his main rival, top seed Carlos Alcaraz beat Gregoire Barrere 6-2, 7-5.

Italy’s Jannik Sinner is also through after battling through an intense first set -- saving four set points -- against the United States’ Marcos Giron to win 7-6, 6-2.

Medvedev, the World No. 3, beat Chile’s Cristian Garin in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to proceed breezily to the third round.

Garin put up a valiant defence, with several hard-fought rallies inducing gasps from the crowd, but ultimately the 98th-ranked player struggled with the Russian’s relentless pace.

“(There’s a) long tournament ahead, with a lot of strong players, starting from my next match,” said Medvedev at the end.

“But the goal for sure is to try and win this beautiful trophy one more time.”

Medvedev won the 2019 title, but for the next three years, the tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m definitely happy to be back in Shanghai,” he said. “I honestly feel great and I want to stay here as long as possible.”

The Russian next plays 26th-ranked Sebastian Korda, who beat him at their last meeting.

Sinner, who defeated Medvedev in the final of the China Open this week, had a more challenging route to the third round in his Shanghai Masters debut.

The World No. 4 snatched a nail-biting first set 7-6 (9/7), before coming back strong in the second set for a quick 6-2 victory.

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is also through to the next round after a straightforward job dispatching Australi-an qualifier Rinky Hijikata 6-4, 6-2. Agencies

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