Daniil Medvedev wasted no time asserting dominance at the Australian Open 2026, dispatching Jesper de Jong 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2) to reach round two. The 2-hour-53-minute battle on Margaret Court Arena highlighted the ex-world No. 1’s resilience and firepower.
Entering on a high from Brisbane, Medvedev’s season record hits 6-0. He broke de Jong seven times from 13 opportunities, his returns piercing through slow-court challenges. Despite relinquishing first-set advantages and third-set serve games, Medvedev stayed ice-cool, overwhelming the tiebreak.
For de Jong at No. 73, it was a debut loss to Medvedev amid serve disruptions for both players. Medvedev’s veteran savvy shone in crunch time.
After 2025’s inconsistencies—capped by one Slam and an Almaty title—Medvedev looks reborn. This win underscores his championship pedigree. He shared post-match satisfaction: ‘Beating early hurdles straight-sets is a confidence booster after last year.’
France’s Quentin Halys, who ousted Alejandro Tabilo, awaits in round two. Medvedev’s trajectory points toward a title challenge.