Daniil Medvedev booked his place in the second round of the Australian Open after his opponent Terence Atmane retired with an injury.
The third seed rallied from a set down and was leading 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 when his opponent, who was making his main draw Grand Slam debut, was forced to withdraw from the match due to cramping caused by the heat.
Both players struggled with the conditions out on Margaret Court Arena as the temperature reached a scorching 29 degrees, but experience was on Medvedev's side and it was he who managed the conditions better.
‘’When I started to feel tough physically he started cramping, so it was brutal conditions,” Medvedev said.
“I’ve been here for seven days and it hasn’t been hot, and now it was hot for the first match.
‘’I was getting tired but many times in these situations the other guy is getting tired too and it’s about who manages it better.’’
The two-time finalist was forced to up his game after failing to capsize on his chance to serve out for the opening set.
Medvedev’s trademark deep-court returning became too much to cope with for the 22-year-old French qualifier as he mobility began to worsen.
The Russian is due to face Emil Ruusuvuori in the next round on Thursday.
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