Daniil Medvedev gave away a second-set tiebreak lead and had to fight on in the final set to earn a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 trip into the quarter-finals of the ATP Halle event on Wednesday over Laslo Djere.
Last year’s runner-up to Hubert Hurkacz admitted that he had his usual problems with grass – for him an alien, almost unplayable, surface.
Medvedev, who plays from the farthest outposts of the court on any court, said he cannot comprehend the talent of grass champions like Roger Federer – 10 times a Halle champion and an honouree after the Medvedev match at the 30th edition of the tournament.
“I stand deep on every surface,” he said. “I don’t see how others can return from so close on grass.
“I don’t have the reflexes, especially on grass where every bounce is not the same.”
Medvedev looked close to wrapping up a straight-sets win, holding a lead of a set and 4-1 in the second-set tiebreaker.
But Djere managed to sneak out the second set, with Medvedev forced to win the third to advance after more than two hours.
He ended with 21 winners and 15 unforced errors, compared to 35 and 30 for his opponent; Medvedev also made seven double-faults.
“I’m not very comfortable on grass,” he said. “It’s so tough for me.
“You can play the perfect match on grass and still lose in two tiebreakers.”
