Medvedev drives Ivashka mad in Halle, secures quarterfinal

Daniil Medvedev defeated Ilya Ivashka for the 2nd week in a row on the grass with the Russian quite literally driving the Belarussian mad 7-6(4) 6-3.

This match was very similar to their encounter in Den Bosch with Daniil Medvedev once again driving Ilya Ivashka mad. The opening set was a tough battle between the players as the Halle conditions allowed both of them to play rather well behind their first serves. We saw no break points in the first few games but later on Medvedev had a couple and Ivashka had as well.

The Russian had to save break points which were actually set points at 4-5 but he was able to do so. We ended up in the tiebreak where Medvedevp roved slightly better 7-4. In the 2nd set, Medvedev continued to frustrated Ivashka as the Belarussian succumbed fairly early in the set. At 4-2 for him, Medvedvedev complicated things by rushing and committing a few cheap mistakes.

It was 0-40 with a chance for Ivashka to get back into the match. Well, not really. The Russian simply flipped a switch and won a couple of points in the row to hold the lead 5-2. He had his first match points in the next games but Ivashka prolonged it a little bit more. In the end the 6-3 finish in the 2nd set for the quarterfinal in Halle.