Medvedev Survives Scare, Advances to Australian Open Second Round

Daniil Medvedev survived a huge scare against Kasidit Samrej, rallying from a set down to win 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 and advance to the Australian Open second round.

Daniil Medvedev, the fifth seed, narrowly escaped a significant upset at the Australian Open on Tuesday, defeating Thai wildcard Kasidit Samrej 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. The match was marked by a notable outburst from Medvedev, who destroyed his racket and a net camera in a mid-match meltdown.

Medvedev's frustration boiled over after he dropped serve in the third set. He smashed his racket five times into the net, earning a code violation for racket abuse. The incident held up play before the fourth set as staff cleaned up the debris from the court. Despite the setback, Medvedev managed to regroup during the pause between sets.

The break seemed to benefit Medvedev, as he went on to dominate the final two sets, steamrolling the world number 418 Samrej. Medvedev's ability to compose himself and refocus ultimately proved crucial in securing the victory.

Daniil Medvedev, last year's finalist, joked about his desire to play more tennis, saying, “I know that I play better when I play more tennis so I was like: 'Why play one-hour-30 (minutes)? Minimum three hours to feel my shots better.” Medvedev's lighthearted comment belied the frustration he felt during the match, particularly in the second and third sets. “Second and third set I couldn't touch the ball. Full power, everything in - I didn't know what to do,” he admitted.

Medvedev also praised his opponent, Kasidit Samrej, saying, “(If) he plays like this every match, life can be good: money, girls, casino, whatever. I wish he can play like this every match.” Samrej, the first Thai player in a men's Grand Slam main draw since 2012, proved to be a formidable opponent, despite being a significant underdog on paper.

Samrej, nicknamed “Boom” in Thailand, began the match nervously, double-faulting to lose the first game. However, he soon found his footing and became a revelation, showcasing impressive touch and landing drop shots from virtually anywhere to outpoint Medvedev repeatedly. Samrej's firepower was also on display, as he blasted a forehand down the line to earn two set points in the second set. Medvedev was impressed, giving Samrej a “thumbs-up” after the Thai player took the set with a powerful shot down the line.

As the match progressed, Medvedev found himself struggling to contain Samrej's momentum. The Russian had three break points in the seventh game, but Samrej saved all of them, two with drop shots and the third with a deft drop volley. Medvedev's frustration eventually boiled over, and after double-faulting to give up two break points and then losing the game, he smashed his racket multiple times into the net, earning a code violation for racket abuse.

Kasidit Samrej, fueled by the crowd's underdog support, capitalized on his fourth set point to take the third set with a powerful forehand down the line. Although he had squandered two earlier set point opportunities with errant drop shots, Samrej's breakthrough sparked a momentum shift in the match. Daniil Medvedev, who had started strongly, found himself rattled and a set down.

Despite his struggles, Medvedev regained his composure and re-emerged with renewed focus to level the match. As Samrej struggled with cramp, calling for pickle juice to alleviate his discomfort, Medvedev seized the initiative. He carried this momentum into the fifth set, where he dominated proceedings, serving out the set to love.

Medvedev reflected on the significance of his hard-fought victory, saying, “At the end of last year, this match I probably would have lost it.” However, he emphasized that the new year has brought a fresh perspective, noting, “Now it's a new year and new energy... So I'm happy to win this match.” Medvedev, a three-time runner-up at Melbourne Park, will face American qualifier Learner Tien in the next round.