Daniil Medvedev qualified for the round of 16 of the tennis tournament in Dubai after eliminating Alexander Shevchenko in two sets – 6-3, 7-5, in nearly an hour and a half of play.
Last year's champion and No. 1 seed in the main draw had a break point as early as the third game, but his Kazakh opponent fended it off. However, nothing could prevent Medvedev from breaking for 3-2. The Russian made a second break but then he relaxed and Shevchenko reduced the deficit. Despite that, he lost the first set 3-6. The world number 47 Kazakh struck first in the second set and he was serving to level the sets at 5-4 in his favour. Shevchenko cracked and after three unanswered games, Medvedev found a place in the next round.
The Russian did not play one of his best matches, although he won in straight sets. He made two aces and five double faults, finishing with a negative balance of winners and unforced errors - 10 to 13. Shevchenko made 21 winners against 18 unforced.
In contention for a place in the quarter-finals, Medvedev will play the winner of the match between Indian wild card Sumit Nagal and Italy's Lorenzo Sonego. /BGNES
