Dubai Open: Daniil Medvedev begins title defence with straight sets win, Ugo Humbert to face Andy Murray

Daniil Medvedev opened his Dubai Open title defence with a 6-3 7-5 win over Alexander Shevchenko, while Ugo Humbert set a second round date with Andy Murray.

The Russian, aiming to successfully defend an ATP title for the first time in his career, will face Lorenzo Sonego or wild card Sumit Nagal in the last 16.

Medevedev is bouncing back after suffering a foot injury in the wake of his Melbourne run, and was happy with his performance.

“When you take a week or two off, but it’s something you planned, then it’s kind of easy tennis-wise, just a couple of points or games to get back,” said Medvedev,

“I did take a week and a half off by myself and then when I came back I started feeling pain here and there, not practising 100%.

“It’s very tricky, because when you come into a match you have to forget about it, because when you think about something other than tennis you are going to lose the match.

“I managed to do it, I didn’t feel any pain and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Medvedev pushed in an 11-minute game three but couldn’t take his break point chance.

He didn’t need to wait much longer, though, breaking in each of the Kazakhstani’s next two service games, the first thanks to back-to-back double faults and the second with a wicked return.

Shevchenko received treatment at the change of ends on his strapped-up right elbow but returned to the court determined, with a whipped passing shot earning him the break-back as Medvedev served for the set.

However, the Russian ensured matters wouldn’t be dragged out any further as he immediately earned a third break to conclude the opener.

After a couple of strong holds apiece, the first chance of the second set fell Shevchenko’s way as he earned two break points, seizing the second.

The world No. 47 remained rock solid on serve, losing just one point in the next two games and hitting three aces in a row as he took a 5-4 lead to earn the chance to serve for the set.

But Medvedev typically wouldn’t go down without a fight and landed a superb forehand winner on the line for three break points, pouncing on the second to level things up.

The momentum thus swung in his favour, the top seed held before setting up two match points as Shevchenko fought to stay in the match, taking the second to clinch victory in one hour and 28 minutes.

Former world No. 1 Murray discovered his second-round opponent as fifth seed Humbert overcame fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Murray holds a 2-0 record against Humbert from their meetings in Antwerp in 2019 and Metz in 2021, but the world No. 18 has started the season strongly and won his fifth career title in Marseille earlier this month.

Christopher O’Connell saw off Maximilian Marterer in straight sets to earn a crack at third seed Hubert Hurkacz, and the winner of that tie will face Murray or Humbert in the quarter-finals.

Fourth seed Karen Khachanov brushed past Luca Van Assche 6-2 6-3 to set a date against Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Marton Fucsovics in three sets, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat Fabian Maroszan in three and will face Jakub Mensik next.

Qualifier Arthur Cazaux ousted Lorenzo Musetti to set up a tie with No. 2 seed Andrey Rublev.