ATP
Bu hoo – Medvedev avoids sad start at IW
Daniil Medvedev saw off a Chinese challenge on “the slowest court I’ve ever played on” to advance in his opening match at the Indian Wells Masters 6-2, 6-2 over Bu Yunchaokete.
The fifth-seeded runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at the last two editions in the Californian desert took 95 minutes to advance past the 23-year-old Spanish-coached Asian ranked 71.
Medvedev began by dropping serve to love in the opening game but quickly found his feet on the unsatisfactory surface.
“This is the slowest court I’ve ever played on in my life,” the former US Open winner seeking his first title since 2023 said.
“The first game was pretty rough. My preparation was not the best in the days before – he arrived after a quarter-final in Dubai nine days ago.
“After losing the first game I just tried to find a way, I’m really happy about it.”
Medvedev advanced with 23 winners and 22 unforced errors while Bu managed just nine winners.