Medvedev overcomes Big Brother breakdown

Daniil Medvedev survived a late-match computer meltdown on Monday to scratch his way into the second round of the Halle grass event, defeating Nuno Borges 7-6 (4), 6-4

The win at the Wimbledon tuneup in Germany was marred by a false calls of “out” by the electronic system; it was ill-timed to the max, coming on a first match point for the second seed and resulted in the point being replayed.

Medvedev and his opponent also had to wait for nearly a minute in the second set for the all-knowing system to find a previous shot to show on the stadium screen on a replay on an unsuccessful challenge from Medvedev

But the hitches were all forgotten in victory as Medvedev moved into a second-round match with China’s Zhang Zhizhen, who handed Austrian Sebastian Ofner another first-round exit on grass, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (3), 6-4.

Medvedev ended with 21 winners against No. 51 Borges and said he was glad to have finally made his summer start on grass.

“There were technical issues here and there. especially on the match point, it was a bit of a tricky ending, but I’m glad to make it through.

“As the first match on grass, the sensations were not there,” he added. :I was late on every forehand.

“But the best thing is we were both playing better and better. – that’s a good thing.

“You can practice all you want but it’s never the same on the match court and the practice court.. I hope my next match will be better.”

The 2022 Halle runner-up to Hubert Hurkacz finished with nine aces.

Medvedev is still seeking his first title of the season after winning five in 2023.