Daniil Medvedev left unhappy at Shanghai Masters by quality of balls used

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Previews - Source: Getty
Daniil Medvedev criticized the quality of tennis balls (Image Source: Getty)

Daniil Medvedev booked his place in the third round of the Shanghai Masters after defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets. The Russian had a moment of drama during the match, when he criticized the quality of balls used in the Masters 1000 event.

Medvedev received a walkover to the second round in Shanghai by virtue of being the fifth seed of the tournament. During the opening set of the match, the 28-year-old called the supervisor and complained about the balls, claiming that they were not good enough for professional tennis, and that they get "destroyed" after just five games.

"These balls are not good enough for professional tennis. This is one of the biggest tournaments in the world and the balls are destroyed after 5 games. No pressure at all," the Russian said.

This is not the first time Daniil Medvedev has spoken out on the quality of tennis balls. During the China Open last year, he called the balls being used on hardcourts "a joke" after his quarterfinal win over Ugo Humbert.

"All the match was pretty up & down.. These balls on hardcourts are a joke. 3rd set I lose my serve & I win 6-1. It’s not normal. But we’ve played like this all year. So okay," the Russian said.

Medvedev's win over Seyboth Wild in Shanghai saw him tie his head-to-head record against the Brazilian, having previously lost to him in the first round of the 2023 French Open.

Daniil Medvedev will next face Matteo Arnaldi in 3R of Shanghai Masters 2024

Daniil Medvedev in action at the China Open (Image Source: Getty)
Daniil Medvedev in action at the China Open (Image Source: Getty)

After his win over Thiago Seyboth Wild, Medvedev will next take on 29th seed Matteo Arnaldi in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. The Italain booked his place in the Round of 32 with a 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-4 win over American qualifier Zachary Svajda.

Arnaldi has won 29 out of 51 matches so far this season, notably reaching the semifinals of the Canadian Open and the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open.

Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Arnaldi will lock horns for the fourth time, with the Russian winning each of their three prior encounters. Their only previous meeting this season came in the second round of the Madrid Open and Medvedev won 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Whoever out of the two comes out on top, will lock horns with either tenth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller in the the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters. If Medvedev defeats Arnaldi, he will reach the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time since the Italian Open.

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Edited by Neelabhra Roy
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