Slow conditions and a tight match

Medvedev is the favorite, but Shang has what it takes to put up resistance

This match will be played in the evening session at the tournament, in conditions that are expected to be rather slow.

An important factor in the analysis, as it directly affects the pace of the rallies and the players’ ability to finish points quickly. These conditions generally favor long rallies and can reduce the impact of the serve.

Daniil Medvedev is coming off a fairly average match at ATP Rotterdam. The Russian complained a lot about the slowness of the court, at times seeming frustrated with his ability to dictate play. That said, we should also put this underperformance into perspective: above all, he came up against a very good Ugo Humbert, who managed to weather the storm, accept being dominated at times, and perfectly seize his opportunities to turn the match around in the third set.

On the other side, Juncheng Shang is making his return to the tour after the Australian Open. The young Chinese player has very high potential, with tremendous firepower, especially on his forehand.

His development has nevertheless been hindered so far by recurring physical issues, preventing him from stringing matches together and finding real continuity at the highest level.

In recent weeks, Medvedev hasn’t been entirely convincing in terms of his level of play. While he is obviously superior in experience and mental toughness, his game level hasn’t given an impression of complete control. In this context, and against a Shang capable of very heavy acceleration, especially on the forehand side, it is plausible to imagine the young Chinese player holding his own for at least part of the match, holding his service games and putting pressure on Medvedev in certain phases.