De Minaur breaks: De Minaur* 6-4, 2-0 Bublik (*next server)
Medvedev has capitulated since losing that first set – and it’ll be interesting to see how Bublik responds having been denied in the opener. In the past he had a tendency to self combust in matches, amid a flurry of smashed rackets and screaming, but he’s been much more mentally strong since coming from two sets down to defeat De Minaur in five sets at the French Open last year. That win really kickstarted a transformation … but there are too many errors from Bublik right now, and another hands De Minaur the break to 30.
Tien breaks then holds … again: Medvedev* 4-6, 0-6, 0-4 Tien (*next server)
Tien takes his 10th game on the spin for 3-0 and his 11th for 4-0, with Medvedev’s mind seemingly already halfway home in Monte Carlo.
Back to Rod Laver, where Bublik and De Minaur are still on serve, with De Minaur leading 5-4. And the Demon gives himself a sniff at 15-30 … which becomes 15-40 when he goes back behind Bublik with a forehand winner! Smart play. And it gives him two set points, which are also the first break points of this match. Bublik bashes down his fastest serve of the night on the first … and coughs up a double on the second! The 15,000-strong crowd cheer the double fault as loudly as they would a winner, because their man is a set ahead.
