Medvedev set for Moscow homecoming – Kremlin Cup 2019 preview

The 2019 Kremlin Cup will mark the 30th version of Moscow’s showcase tennis occasion with Daniil Medvedev anticipated to gentle up the ATP Tour 250 occasion within the Russian capital, which doubles as a homecoming for the tennis ‘dangerous boy’.

Medvedev’s Moscow homecoming

Moscow is eagerly awaiting the return of tennis’ latest villain at the town’s Krylatskoye Ice Palace, with Medvedev anticipated to proceed his scorching profitable streak in his dwelling city, the place he’s the boys’s singles no. 1 seed. 

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The world no. Four has break up opinion amongst tennis crowds everywhere in the world on the tour along with his feisty and inflammatory type of play, which has seen him undertake an anti-hero standing.

However one factor all spectators can agree on is that he’s at present the most well liked males’s participant within the sport. And he is trying to proceed that type in Moscow.

The 23-year-old Muscovite thrashed fellow rising star Alexander Zevrev 6-Four, 6-1 on Sunday to clinch the Shanghai Masters in China and proceed his assault on the massive tennis prime three of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. 

Medevev’s Shanghai win on Sunday was his third title in six straight finals, having beforehand received the Masters 1000-level event in Cincinnati and the St. Petersburg trophy. He has additionally picked up extra factors within the final three months than another participant on the tour.

His victory in China means Medvedev’s pursuit will not be far off from turning into actuality. He’s on the right track to complete the yr forward of all-time nice Federer and moved forward of the Swiss  within the ATP Race To London after choosing up 400 factors for his last victory.

I’ve a infantile coach ???? pic.twitter.com/5ms2erB1tT

— Daniil Medvedev (@DaniilMedwed) October 13, 2019

On the Kremlin Cup, Medvedev obtained a primary spherical bye to arrange a second spherical match up with the winner of  Russian pairing Alibek Kachmazov and Alen Avidzba. Medvedev’s compatriot and 2nd seed Karen Khachanov will play both Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber or Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. 

Croatia’s Marin Cilic and Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic are the one different males’s gamers to obtain byes because the third and fourth seeds respectively.

Russians crash out at qualifiers

Qualifying for the event received underway on Saturday the place Russian gamers did not fare too nicely. There was a shock for girls’s singles second seed Vitalia Diatchenko, who was battered in straight units 6-1, 6-2 to Bulgarian world quantity 170 Isabella Shinikova.

Diatchenko made headlines by advantage of her ‘cartoon superhero’ arms famous by followers when she went up towards US nice Serena Williams within the French Open 1st spherical this yr, however didn’t get the possibility to create any extra press drama as she crashed out in shocking vogue. 

READ MORE: ‘Arms like a cartoon superhero!’ Serena opponent Diatchenko’s bulging biceps trigger stir Down Beneath

Valentina Ivakhnenko was overwhelmed Three-6, 6-Four, 36 after a staging one thing of a fightback within the second set towards Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, whereas 17-year-old rookie Elina Zakharova was unfortunate in profitable her first qualifier towards vastly extra skilled Nadiia Kichenok however then dropping on the second day to Slovakia’s Jana Čepelová. 

Vlada Koval was soundly overwhelmed 6-Zero, 6-Zero by Estonia’s six-time Grand Slam quarter finalist and former world no. 15 Kaia Kanepi and Varvara Flink misplaced an entertaining match to Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski.

Elsewhere, there was additionally dangerous information for 19-year-old Moscow native Sofya Lansere who was despatched out in her dwelling event by fellow teen star Olga Danilovic from Serbia.

The luck of the draw meant two all-Russian qualifiers Polina Kudermetova despatched out Oksana Selekhmeteva and Ludmilla Samsonova vanquished Kamilla Rakhimova, however the victors of each these ties misplaced of their subsequent subsequent spherical qualifiers.

Within the males’s singles, Artem Dubrivnyy was the one dwelling participant to make it out of qualifying, with a formidable win over Belarusian third seed Ilya Ivashka with a spirited come-from-behind win 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 earlier than bettering Filip Horansky from Slovakia on the event’s second day. 

Roman Safiullin misplaced in straight units to Czech Lukas Rosol 6-Three, 6-Four, his fellow countryman Evgeny Karlovskiy 6-Four, Three-6, Zero-6 to Horansky and Alexey Vatutin misplaced 6-Four 63 to Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who then went on to qualify for the event correct with victory over Sebastian Ofner.

The choose of the motion for Monday’s ties sees two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova tackle Karolína Muchová. Kanepi will play Tereza Martincová and 18-year-old Anastasia Potapova go up towards Anna Kalinskaya. Within the males’s singles, Chilean fifth seed Cristian Garin will play Andreas Seppi.

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