Diego Schwartzman - Daniil Medvedev, for the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 in Paris: in search of a victory to reach London

11/06/2020 7:26 AM

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 11/06/2020 7:26 AM

Diego Schwartzman is one step away from qualifying for the London Masters for the first time.

A single victory, which he will seek this Friday, from 10 in our country on

and

against a complicated opponent, who he still could not beat.

The

, number nine in the world, will face the Russian Daniil Medvedev, fifth in the ranking, for the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 in Paris.

If he wins, he will fulfill the greatest objective with which he arrived in the French capital, since he will take over the last available ticket for the contest that will bring together the eight best of the season in the British capital.

"I'm doing everything possible to be in London," said the Argentine after beating Spanish

in the second round by a double 6-1

.

It all depends on him.

One more celebration to reach the semis and it will be out of reach of the Spanish

, the only one who can steal the place.

Although it is not an easy task for

achieve that victory.

Because Medvedev, the last obstacle that he will have to overcome to guarantee his arrival in London, is a dangerous rival, owner of an unconventional tennis that can complicate any player, and who won the three duels they played previously.

Schwartzman beat Spaniard Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16 by a double 6-1.

Photo AP Photo / Thibault Camus

The first was in Tokyo 2018, in a similar scenario in which they will face this time, an indoor hard court.

There, the Russian won in two sets.

Last year, they collided in the Queen's ATP quarterfinals, also with an easy victory for Medvedev.

And in January, they met in the quarterfinals of the ATP Cup in Australia, in a duel in which Schwartzman stole a set from him before losing 6-4, 4-6 and 6 -3.

In that duel on Australian soil, they had a cross: at the end of the first set, Medvedev celebrated with too much enthusiasm a couple of errors by Schwartzman, who did not like the attitude at all and in the change of ends he insulted him.

There was an exchange of words, but everything was left on the court.

"I think he made a mistake in that game, but that was all. These things happen on the court and costs leave me there. Today we have a common relationship between two players who share the circuit ,

" he recalled the

, next to play the final in Rome, the semi at Roland Garros and the final in Cologne.

It's all getting a bit spicy in Sydney ... 🌶 😳 # ATPCup pic.twitter.com/IgCt1KLEnD

- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 9, 2020

"It will be a different match than today. Because Medvedev hits the ball much flatter than Alejandro. He is a very solid player, moves spectacularly and has great defense. But I want to get to London, I know it's in my hands and I'm going to go for that, "he anticipated. 

The Russian - who defeated Australian

5-7, 6-2 and 6-2 in the round

- also downplayed that incident at the beginning of the year and praised the great moment the Argentine is experiencing.

"I have no problems with Diego, I think our relationship is getting better and better," commented who achieved his best performance in 2020 at the US Open, in which he was a semifinalist.

And he opined: "I don't think that in these games, when there are two players in the top ten, there is really a favorite. Diego is playing incredible right now. His results are incredible. He will probably be in London."

Medvedev reached the quarterfinals after beating Australian De Minaur.

Photo EFE / EPA / YOAN VALAT

A victory will guarantee Schwartzman his presence at the Masters, which has already confirmed the participations of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and

.

But a defeat would not leave him without a chance.

If he loses to the Russian, the

would still ensure qualification in Paris if later - not before 14.30 in Argentina - Nadal defeats Carreño Busta, who would thus be out of the race.

And even if the worst scenario occurs for the Argentine and Carreño surprises Nadal, there will still be hope.

Because the Spaniard, 15th in the ranking, must be crowned in Paris and also win the ATP 250 of Sofia next week to reach 3,515 points and surpass the 3,365 of Schwartzman, who is just entered in the Bulgarian tournament.

The action of the day in Paris will be completed with the clashes between the Canadian

and the Frenchman

, from which the rival of Schwartzman or Medvedev will come out for the semifinals, and the one that the winners of Zverev and Wawrinka will play. 

MFV