Daniil Medvedev acknowledged he had to rely on "pure reflexes" when dealing with big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their Dubai Tennis Championships last-16 clash. (More Tennis News)
🐽The former US Open champion progressed to the quarter-finals at the ATP 500 event for a third consecutive year, after prevailing 6-4 6-4 in just under an hour-and-a-half.
🎃Medvedev, who was victorious here in 2023, was facing the powerful serves of Mpetshi Perricard for the first time at ATP Tour level.
🥃But while winning 96% of points behind his own first serve (23 out of 24), the top seed also broke his opponent in each set, with both breaks proving crucial as he set up a last-eight meeting with Tallon Griekspoor.
🗹"You don't have any time, so it's pure reflexes," Medvedev said of Mpetshi Perricard's serve. "It makes it even easier, because if you don't return it, you're not even disappointed.
🐈"There were some second serves I missed [however], and I was disappointed. You just try to do your best and I managed it pretty well today.
ꦯ"It's tactically easy in a way, because you have to be strong on your [own] serve. I was very good on my serve. Then, you can put pressure on his serve, try to guess or see something. I'm generally happy with my level."
