Daniil Medvedev becomes 10th player to complete Quarter-Final set in ATP Masters 1000 despite disliking clay

Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Madrid Open on Tuesday. By virtue of this victory, the Russian joined an exclusive list of nine other active players to have reached at least the quarterfinal stage at all ATP Masters 1000 events.

Known for his dislike of clay courts, Medvedev looked impressive in his 7-6(3) 6-4 win over Alexander Bublik in the fourth round. The third seed will now play in his 20th ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal this week in Madrid, where he will face rising Czech star Jiri Lehecka.

Medvedev showing vast improvement on clay

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The 2021 US Open champion made his breakthrough on hardcourts, but never seemed to go deep in tournaments based on clay. Following a semifinal appearance at the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters, the Russian suffered early round losses at several events on the red dirt. However, he stunned the tennis community when he lifted his maiden clay ATP Masters 1000 title at Rome last year.

With a prestigious clay court title in his cabinet, Medvedev seems to have gained more confidence on the surface. The World No.4 reached the round of 16 in Monte-Carlo this year, an improvement from his previous results. Furthermore, the 28-year old seems to be playing with more heart and dedication in Madrid.