Daniil Medvedev’s quest for grasscourt glory began with a stumble at the Halle Open on Wednesday. The Russian third seed, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year, was ousted in a thrilling second-round encounter by China’s Zhang Zhizhen. The final score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) reflected the topsy-turvy nature of the match, with both players showcasing flashes of brilliance before Zhang edged out a narrow victory in the deciding set tie-break.
Medvedev’s struggles on serve were evident from the outset. The usually reliable Russian was broken twice in the opening set, allowing the unseeded Zhang to establish an early lead. However, Medvedev displayed his trademark resilience in the second set, finding his rhythm and breaking Zhang’s serve on two occasions. Five aces and powerful groundstrokes helped him level the match at one set apiece.
The deciding set became a tense battle of wills. Both players held firm on serve, forcing a tie-break. Despite a mini-break advantage at 4-2, Medvedev couldn’t capitalize, allowing Zhang to claw his way back. The turning point came at 5-5 when a netted forehand from Medvedev gave Zhang a crucial set-point opportunity. The Chinese player seized his moment, firing a winning backhand to seal the victory and send Medvedev packing.
For Zhang, this win represents a significant scalp and a confidence boost heading into the tournament’s latter stages. The 28-year-old, ranked 87th in the world, has been quietly improving his game and will be looking to cause more upsets in Halle.
Meanwhile, Medvedev’s early exit raises questions about his form on grass. While it’s just his first tournament on the surface this season, a strong showing in Halle would have been a confidence booster before the prestigious Wimbledon Championships. Now, he’ll have to quickly regroup and find his winning touch, with the grasscourt major just around the corner.
In contrast to Medvedev’s woes, German star Alexander Zverev enjoyed a more comfortable passage into the third round. The second seed defeated Italian veteran Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(3). Zverev looked sharp, particularly on his serve, firing 13 aces and dominating the net play. In his next match, he’ll face a stiffer test against young French talent Arthur Fils, who upset fellow German Dominik Koepfer in straight sets.
The contrasting fortunes of Medvedev and Zverev highlight the unpredictability of the grasscourt season. While established players like Medvedev sometimes struggle to adjust to the quicker surface, it can also be a breeding ground for upsets, as Zhang’s victory demonstrates.
With Wimbledon fast approaching, the Halle Open is a crucial warm-up tournament. The next few days will be interesting to see if Zverev can maintain his momentum and challenge for the title, while Medvedev hopes to bounce back and find his winning form on grass.
