Danil Medvedev saved all six break points he faced in his 6-2 6-2 win over Botic Van de Zandschulp at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam.
Medvedev won eight of his nine sets in his three previous matches against Van de Zandschulp.
Medvedev earned an early break in the second game to take a 3-0 lead, but he did not convert two opportunites for a double break in the fifth game. Medvedev held his serve at love in the seventh game for 5-2 before closing out the first set with a double break in the eighth game.
Van de Zandschulp earned two break points in the first game of the second set, but Medvedev saved them to hold serve. The Russian player earned a break in the second game to take a 2-0 lead. Van de Zandschulp created two more opportunities for a break in the third game, but Medvedev fended them off. Medvedev sealed the second set 6-2 with a double break on his third opportunity,
Medvedev set up a quarter final against Felix Auger Aliassime, who beat French qualifier Gregore Barrere 6-4 6-3. Auger Aliassime is aiming his second consecutive title in Rotterdam and went on to win three more titles in Florence, Antwerp and Basel during the 2022 season.
Auger Aliassime hit six aces in the first set and won 75% on his first service points compared to just 62% for Barrere. The Canadian converted two of his three break points. Barrere was unable to capitalize on his only break point in the first set. Auger Alaissime broke Barrere’s serve in the eighth game to open up a 5-3 lead and sealed the win in the next game on serve after 1 hour and 23 minutes.
Medvedev leads 4-0 in his head-to-head matches against Auger Aliassime, but three of these four clashes went the distance. At the 2022 Australian Open Medvedev rallied from two sets down to beat Auger Aliassime 6-7 3-6 7-6 7-5 6-3.
“The further you go, normally the higher-ranked players you play. Felix is a top player. He won here last year and played amazing at the end of last year. I am looking forward to a tough match and hopefully I can be at my best. The harder your opponent, the more you are going to feel you have to play better. He is going to take his opportunities. He is going to go for it when he has the chance. I will need to be at my best”, said Medvedev.
Alex De Minaur overcame serve and volleyer Maxime Cressy 7-5 3-6 6-3. De Minaur earned his first break in the seventh game of the opening set to take a 4-3 lead. Cressy broke straight back to draw level to 4-4. De Minuar closed out the first set with a break in the 11th game. Cressy earned his only break in the fourth game to win the second set 6-3.
The Australian player converted one of his two break points in the fourth game of the third set. Cressy did not have any break points in the decider.
De Minaur will face Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter finals. The Aussie player leads 2-1 in his three head-to-head matches against Dimitrov.
