Daniil Medvedev kicks off his 2024 US Open journey with a determined victory over Lajovic, showcasing his resilience and skill on the court.
Introduction:
Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion, came through a tight first-round win to start his 2024 US Open campaign against Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic. Up against the tough opponent who had beaten him on two previous occasions, Medvedev won in four sets: 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, advancing to the second round.
The Louis Armstrong Stadium, which hosted the match, witnessed Daniil Medvedev’s resiliency and ability to adjust under pressure as it lasted for 2 hours and 33 minutes. Though it was far from a perfect display, a win does set up the perfect beginning for Medvedev as he eyes a dream run similar to that of the hard-court season last year.
See also: Carlos Alcaraz’s Remarkable First-Round Victory at the 2024 US Open
Daniil Medvedev Serving Form: An Indication of Victory
Web Medvedev’s huge serving was one of the critical factors in his success against Lajovic. The Russian hit 14 aces and won 76 percent of points on his first serve, compared to just 64 percent for Lajovic. That differential enabled Medvedev to stay ahead in his service games and make life uncomfortable for Lajovic in return games.
Yet, his serve wasn’t without blemish: Daniil Medvedev committed a full 11 double faults, a number that on another day could prove costly against less accommodating opponents. But he did keep his nerve when it mattered to convert six of his 11 break-point chances and put the zip on Lajovic’s plans for securing the advantage.
A Rollercoaster Second Set
Having started well in the first set, where he broke Lajovic twice to take it 6-3, the momentum shifted in the second set. Extremely versatile backcourt player Lajovic instantly found his rhythm and broke Medvedev early before continuing to apply pressure with his heavy groundstrokes and precise net play.
Most impressive for Lajovic, though, was his success at the net, where he won 10 of his 11 approaches to disturb Medvedev and take the second set 6-3. The set thus leveled the match and begged the question whether Medvedev would regain control against a player who had beaten him twice before.
Medvedev Regroups and Takes Control
Faced with adversity, Medvedev took the bathroom break after the second set. It just recentered him enough to come out with a game plan on the court. The break was doing wonders for the Russian as he straight away broke Lajovic’s serve to love in the opening of the third set and won the first seven points of the set.
The ability of Medvedev to adapt and adjust his strategy was full on display as he cruised through the third set 6-3. He then started to play with more confidence, hitting winners easily and further frustrating Lajovic with his deep returns and powerful groundstrokes.
In the fourth set, Daniil Medvedev continued to dominate, breaking early and racing to 5-0 against Lajovic. By this time, resistance had been broken, and Medvedev closed out the match 6-1 to seal his place in the second round.
What This Victory Means for Medvedev
The win against Lajovic is significant to Medvedev as he tries to make a deep run in this year’s US Open. As the fifth seed and a former champion, Medvedev has flown somewhat under the radar this year, in part because of a dearth of titles this summer during the hard-court season. Early exits in Toronto and Cincinnati raised red flags about his form, but this win suggests that Medvedev is finding his rhythm at just the right time.
Through his career, Daniil Medvedev built a lot of success on hard courts-18 of his 20 singles titles came on this surface. The ability to adapt to the game against different opponents and in different situations places him as one of the most consistent performers of the men’s game, particularly on hard courts. In the match that he played against Lajovic, the way he conducted himself-easily assertive and almost resilient, underlined the tactical acumen that will serve him in good stead once the tournament wears on.
Lajovic: A Hard-type Opponent, but Medvedev Wins
Dusan Lajovic was an experienced professional turning 34 this year, coming into the match 2-1 ahead of Medvedev in head-to-head. Strong and muscularly explosive in his backcourt game, with his shots of variety, Lajovic proved to be dicey for Medvedev. He has managed to keep Medvedev running around the court, and his success at the net made this match competitive-most specifically, in the first two sets.
Lajovic played great but after the second set, he let Medvedev get into a rhythm. As for Lajovic, he is always dangerous and may sometimes take top players’ scalps. He had beaten Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, and Medvedev in previous matches.
US Open Prospects: Medvedev
He will try to win again in the second round for a foothold to make this his second US Open title. Medvedev serves strong, is tactically intelligent, and can play with assurance on the hard courts to stand as one of the favorites in the tournament.
The road ahead will not be easy. Daniil Medvedev will have to be focused and cut down his unforced errors-first and foremost, his double faults-if he is to surmount the coming challenges. If he can do that, Medvedev is certainly capable of going deep into the tournament and even adding one more major title to his already impressive resume.
Conclusion: A Positive Start for Medvedev
There were moments of nail-biting tension, but Daniil Medvedev’s opening win at the 2024 US Open was an important step forward in his attempt to win his second career Grand Slam title. Second seed Medvedev defeated the formidable Dusan Lajovic, proving he remains a force to be dealt with on the Flushing Meadows hard courts. As the tournament goes on, eyes will be glued to Medvedev to see if he can get back to the form that has won him a US Open and him to the top of the echelons.