Medvedev claims first clay win since Monte-Carlo humiliation in nervy Madrid opener
Medvedev (No 7) beat Marozsan 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4 at the Madrid Mutua Open. Two weeks after Monte-Carlo, a win on clay is a win on clay. He will take it.
Daniil Medvedev, Madrid 2026 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Daniil Medvedev, the No 7 seed, put the ghosts of Monte-Carlo temporarily behind him with a 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4 win over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan on Saturday evening at the Mutua Madrid Open – his first victory on clay since suffering the most humiliating defeat of his career two weeks ago.
In Monte-Carlo, Medvedev was beaten 6-0, 6-0 in 49 minutes by Italian wild card Matteo Berrettini. It was the first double bagel of his career, a match in which he did not hold a single game point on his serve and smashed his racquet repeatedly in frustration.
Medvedev leading 6-2, 4-2
“A double 6-0 doesn’t forgive: it hurts, it’s humiliating, but it’s part of sport,” he said afterwards. He arrived in Madrid insisting his confidence had not been permanently damaged. Saturday’s match tested that claim.
Medvedev was dominant early, racing to 6-2, 4-2 with Marozsan offering little. Then the Hungarian found something – raising his level, breaking back, and taking the second set in a tiebreak to level the match. The defining moment came at match point in the second set, when Medvedev touched the net and forfeited the point, handing Marozsan a reprieve he made full use of.
The Russian steadied himself and closed the third set 6-4, but it was not the clean, commanding performance the opening set had promised.
Norwegian Nicolai Budkov Kjaer awaits Medvedev in the third round. Kjaer is 19 years old, ranked No 140, and arrived in Madrid through qualifying. He won Wimbledon Juniors in 2024and has been climbing steadily since turning professional.
He reached the second round when Reilly Opelka retired in the first round, and now faces a top-10 opponent for the first time in his career.
