Auger-Aliassime makes history by eliminating Medvedev

Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev was derailed at the Paris Olympics, losing Wednesday’s Third Round match 6-3, 7-6(3) to Félix Auger-Aliassime. In doing so, Auger-Aliassime becomes the first Canadian, man or woman, to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic tennis event.

Never has a victory been more timely than the one obtained today by the Canadian, who has had seven previous run-ins with the Muscovite, who is playing at these Games as a neutral and under the Olympic flag - and had lost all seven. His first victory over Medvedev tastes sweeter than ever as it allows Auger to advance to the quarter finals, and place him in the fight for the medals.

Medvedev struggling to cope on clay

Medvedev, who has openly admitted his struggles playing on clay, was constantly battling against the current in spite of what was at stake. He tried to react after being outplayed in the first set but the Canadian held his own and took the second set to a tie-break, which he also won to seal the victory after one hour and 42 minutes, interrupted by rain.

In his second Olympic participation, Medvedev was simply unable to match his previous best, reaching the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020. Quite the opposite for Auger-Aliassime who in his first Olympic experience already sees the fight for medals on the horizon. In the quarter-finals he will play Norway’s Casper Ruud, who beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo 6-3 6-4 and is also progressing well in his first Olympics.

Medvedev’s elimination could come as a relief to Carlos Alcaraz, Spain’s only hope of a medal in the men’s singles. There was a chance that the Russian and the Spaniard could have met in the final - Medvedev has beaten him twice in seven clashes. Now, Alcaraz will be focusing on his quarter final meeting with Team USA’s Tommy Paul which won’t be easy either.