Russian Daniil Medvedev, number 1 in world men’s tennis, swept American Stefan Kozlov in three sets on Monday at the start of the defense of his US Open title achieved last year.
Medvedev, who in New York is also trying to retain the leadership of the ATP ranking, beat Kozlov (No. 111) 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in two hours of play at the colossal Arthur Ashe Stadium .
The Russian will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, number 58 in the ATP, who defeated his compatriot Quentin Halys (4-6, 7-6, 6-3 and 6-2) in the second round.
The comfortable victory was also sweet revenge for Medvedev, who revealed the efforts he needed to beat Kozlov when they were both playing at junior level.
“It was almost impossible to beat him,” the Russian recalled, citing a match in which his rival “destroyed” him. “I was glad I could get my revenge today,” he said.
Kozlov broke early in the first set to stay even 2-2 in a hot and humid midday in Flushing Meadows, New York.
However, Medvedev reacted quickly to take a 5-2 lead and pocket the first set.
In the second set, the hardest fought, the Russian broke his rival to lead 5-4 and sentence with his serve, before accelerating to win the final set in love.
In New York, Medvedev faces a litmus test at the end of an unproductive season, in which he only won a title (in Los Cabos, Mexico) after what had been a dream 2021, with the coronation at the US Open itself. .
Medvedev is confident of regaining his best game in New York to become the first player to defend the title since Roger Federer won his fifth in a row in 2008.
