MIAMI – Top-seeded Daniil Medvedev hobbled into the fourth round of the Miami Open on Sunday, defying crippling leg cramps to beat Australian Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (7/9), 6-4.
World No. 2 Medvedev, increasingly hampered as the third set wore on in the heat and humidity of South Florida, nevertheless mustered the only service break of the third set on the way to a dramatic victory over 86th-ranked Popyrin.
“It’s probably one of the sweetest victories in my career, because I was cramping like hell in the third set,” Medvedev said on court as he limped in circles seeking relief.
“It’s difficult to think about victory when you’re cramping. At the same time, I s…
Keep on reading: Top-seeded Medvedev toils into Miami Open fourth round