The world No.2 dismissed without forcing the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (47th) 6-3, 6-4 last night.
“
The courts are very slow, so games can go on for a long time.
I managed to make fewer mistakes in important moments, to serve a little better.
The margin was not big, but I managed to win and I'm happy about
it,” commented the Russian.
He will face American Jenson Brooksby (39th) who eliminated another Spaniard, Roberto Bautista (17th), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to try to reach the quarter-finals, his best result in the Florida tournament already reached last year.
It was precisely Bautista who had eliminated him in 2021. But this year, the Spaniard who led 4-0 in the decisive set conceded six consecutive games and allowed the American, who had already reached the 8th in Indian Wells , to qualify.
To recover the world throne, which he had occupied two weeks before handing it over to Novak Djokovic on March 21, the winner of the last US Open will have to reach the semi-finals.
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Unlike the Russian's match, the battle raged between the rising star Carlos Alcaraz (16th at 18) and the experienced Marin Cilic (23rd at 33).
The Croatian, ex-world No.3 and winner of the US Open in 2014, tried everything but neither his experience nor his racket stroke allowed him to master the fiery spirit and the dreaded eye of the formidable Alcaraz, who won 6-4, 6-4.
If there was indeed an arm wrestling, the youngest knew how to give the necessary push each time.
Like the end of the match when he broke to lead 5-4, he offered himself three match points on his serve and concluded from the first with a drop shot followed by a lob that the big Cilic couldn't beat in the court.
Semi-finalist in Indian Wells, where he had pushed Rafael Nadal to his limits, Alcaraz will face in Florida the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th), winner of the Australian Alex De Minaur (6-4, 6-3), to try to get into quarters.
For its first participation last year, Alcaraz was eliminated in the first round.
Defending champion Hubert Hurkacz (10th) also qualified for the 8th round by defeating Russian Aslan Karatsev (32nd) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
The Pole will face the South African Lloyd Harris (44th) winner of the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka (96th) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5.
Swiatek too strong
In the women's draw, Osaka, 77th in the world, dominated Alison Riske (50th) 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals, like last year.
To try to climb into the last four, the Japanese will face another American, Danielle Collins (11th), finalist of the last Australian Open and who eliminated the Tunisian Ons Jabeur (10th) 6-2, 6-4.
After obviously dealing with moments of frustration against Riske, the Japanese, plagued by psychological issues for months, concluded the game and let a big smile light up her face.
“
Last year too I went to the quarters, but I didn't feel well.
This time, I am living funny moments in my life
, ”commented the former world No.1, four times Grand Slam titleholder.
No cold sweat on the other hand for Iga Swiatek who, with the retirement of Ashleigh Barty, will be the new world N.1 on Monday: the Pole gave a lesson to the American Coco Gauff (17th) 6-3, 6-1 .
She thus added a 14th victory in a row after her titles in Doha and Indian Wells and will try to continue her series in the quarterfinals against the Czech Petra Kvitova (32nd) who won 7-6 (7/5), 6- 4 against the Russian Veronika Kudermetova (23rd).
3rd round men:
Daniil Medvedev (RUS/N.1) beats Pedro Martínez (ESP) 6-3, 6-4
Jenson Brooksby (USA) beats Roberto Bautista (ESP/N.15) 6-3, 5-7, 6 -4
Lloyd Harris (RSA) beats Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5
Hubert Hurkacz (POL/N.8) beats Aslan Karatsev (RUS/N.29) 7- 5, 4-6, 6-3
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/N.3) beats Alex De Minaur (AUS/N.25) 6-4, 6-3
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/N.14) beats Marin Cilic (CRO /N.21) 6-4, 6-4
Taylor Fritz (USA/N.11) beats Tommy Paul (USA) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) beats Sebastian Korda (USA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
Round of 16 ladies:
Belinda Bencic (SUI/N.22) beats Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-2, 6-3
Daria Saville (AUS) beats Lucia Bronzetti (ITA) 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
Naomi Osaka (JPN) beats Alison Riske (USA) 6-3, 6-4
Danielle Collins (USA/N.9) beats Ons Jabeur (TUN/N.8) 6-2, 6-4
Paula Badosa (ESP/N. 5) beats Linda Fruhvirtová (CZE) 6-2, 6-3
Jessica Pegula (USA/N.16) beats Anhelina Kalinina (UKR) 6-0, 0-0 (retirement)
µPetra Kvitová (CZE/N.28) beats Veronika Kudermetova (RUS/N.21) 7-6 (7/5), 6-4
Iga Swiatek (POL/N.2) defeats Cori Gauff (USA/N.14) 6-3, 6-1