Medvedev through in three sets against Djere at Halle Open as Struff surges through opener against Safiullin

Daniil Medvedev admitted post match that grass isn't his favourite surface echoing the thoughts of Carlos Alcaraz, but it didn't stop him reaching the Halle Open Quarter-Finals again. He sealed a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 win over Laslo Djere.

Medvedev sealed a two hour, 10 minute win but was forced into a deciding set after Djere came from 4-1 down to claim the second set tie-break.

Just like in the opening set though, he raced clear with an early break in the third and reached his 10th tour-level Quarter-Final of the season. A feat unmatched.

He now faces Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight after the Spaniard took down Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 7-6(2). That is a rematch of their Quarter-Final in 2022 where Medvedev lost in the final.

“Grass is so tough for me,” said Medvedev, when asked about how he handled the surface during his win. “You can actually play a perfect match and lose on two tie-breaks, so it’s a little bit strange for me.

"When I see top players like Roger [Federer], from one side they can seem like aliens but you try to see the best in them, and how they are able on this surface, where it’s sometimes tricky to bear anyone, to have so many titles. Wimbledon, Halle, whatever.

“It’s just amazing and that’s what I try to watch. Happy to win and looking forward to the next matches.”

But while Medvedev was already into the Quarter-Finals, Jan-Lennard Struff is only just into the second round in Germany. He becomes one of three home heroes in the second round in Halle.

He converted four out of seven break opportunities to continue his superb recent form including reaching the final last week in Stuttgart. Now at a career high of 21, he continues to be a force to be reckoned with.

Next up is Alexander Bublik in that second round tie and he will be one to watch as the week goes on in Halle.