Madrid (Spain) – The game that ended the quarterfinal round of the Madrid Masters 1000 was just one set and 41 minutes long. This is because Russian Daniil Medvedev, number 4 in the world, suffered a groin injury at the beginning of the game against Czech Jiri Lehecka, 31st in the rankings, and withdrew from the match after losing the first half by 6/4.
Medvedev is trying to recover in time for the Masters 1000 in Rome, where he is the current champion. The tournament on clay courts in the Italian capital begins on Wednesday. Furthermore, the Russian does not want to take any risks before Roland Garros, which starts on May 26th.
After medical care on the court, which occurred when Medvedev was winning the first set by 3/2, the broadcast captured a conversation between the tennis player and coach Gilles Cervara saying: “I’ve improved, but I’m still very scared,” said the tennis player. 28 years.
Medvedev’s tormentor this Thursday, Lehecka reaches his first Masters 1000 semi-final. The young 22-year-old Czech faces in the next round the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, 23 years old and 35th in the ranking, who didn’t even need to enter the court, after the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner due to a hip injury. Lehecka won their only previous duel against Aliassime at last year’s Australian Open.
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During Thursday’s quick match, Lehecka performed impeccably on serve. He faced no break-points and gave up just four points in his service games. When he put the first serve on the court, he won 15 points out of 16 possible. Medvedev had confirmed that there were no major risks until he suffered the injury. On the way back, he saved two break-points in the long eighth game, but couldn’t avoid the break two games later. And when Lehecka closed the set, the Russian decided to withdraw.
