MADRID (AP) — Second-seeded Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round of the Madrid Open after beating qualifier Andrea Vavassori 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday in the Russian’s first match of the tournament.
In the women’s draw, second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka defeated No. 115 Camila Osorio 6-4, 7-5.
The third-ranked Medvedev leads the men’s circuit with four titles won this season, all on hard courts. He is now 32-4 on the year.
Medvedev is considered the top challenger to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who fought back to beat Emil Ruusuvuori in three sets in his opener on Friday.
Medvedev, however, said he is keeping his expectations in check given the surface is not his best.
The 164th-ranked Vavassori upset two-time Madrid winner Andy Murray in the previous round.
The match was briefly paused for a rain shower, which was well received in Madrid which like the rest of Spain is enduring a prolonged drought.
Also, Jan-Lennard Struff rallied to beat American Ben Shelton 4-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5.
Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion, is trying to reclaim the title she won in 2021.
The Belarus player was in charge for most of the match except for a dip in her form after Osorio needed a medical timeout when down 4-1 in the second set. Sabalenka struggled with his serve but was able to close out the victory.