Medvedev has made a much better start already that last year, where he lost 6-3 6-3 6-3 to Alcaraz.

Alcaraz wins the opening game of the second set with a huge forehand strike and Medvedev goes long.

Meanwhile, Luka Modric is watching on from the players’ box.

There’s one! Medvedev closes the net and finds the forehand winner! He leads 6-1 and has five set points!

Alcaraz nets on the second-serve return and Medvedev takes the set! Wow!

7-1 in the tiebreak.

Wow! After Alcaraz goes long, Medvedev attacks the Alcaraz serve and finds a clean winner down the line off the return! A 3-0 lead for the Russian!

Alcaraz digs out a great return, but how has Medvedev won that point! Brilliant scrambling from the giant fifth sed, as he finds the backhand that Alcaraz can’t return. 4-0.

Medvedev catches the line and Alcaraz nets! Five points in a row for Medvedev! Alcaraz gets on the board behind serve as he attacks on the forehand but Medvedev is two points away at the changeover.

Oooh. Alcaraz with another loopy forehand that drifted wide, which brings up 15-30. Alcaraz finds his serve but Medvedev puts a limp backhand into the net. Alcaraz with the body serve and then the smash. Medvedev’s return is long on the second-serve.

It’s tiebreak time.

Oooh. Alcaraz with another loopy forehand that drifted wide, which brings up 15-30. Alcaraz finds his serve but Medvedev puts a limp backhand into the net. Alcaraz with the body serve and then the smash. Medvedev’s return is long on the second-serve.

It’s tiebreak time.

Medvedev holds to love and gets through to the tiebreak at least, with a game that included a volley that had so much back-spin that is bounced towards the net after landing on Alcaraz’s side. Alcaraz, of course, applauded it.

He will again have to hold to stay in the set.

Alcaraz finds himself looking at 0-30... but digs out of the hole as Medvedev puts a couple of shots long. The serve starts to click and Medvedev dumps a return into the bottom of the net. Alcaraz with the backhand down the line, Medvedev can’t return!

Three games in a row for Alcaraz and he strikes level in the set.

Oooh. Medvedev gets a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. I think that was from the final break point, when Alcaraz’s drop shot was ruled to have bounced twice.

Nervy start from Medvedev as the backhand drifts long, then on the baseline rally Alcaraz finds his way past with a winner! Stunning return from Alcaraz, right onto the the baseline, and it’s three break points for Alcaraz!

Ace from Medvedev. Long on the second, Alcaraz pushes wide on the backhand! Still one break point to go: huge serve from Medvedev but Alcaraz gets the return back... there’s the drop shot, and Medvedev can’t reach it! Alcaraz breaks back!

Alcaraz still has to hold to stay in the set and he has only made 6/17 first serves so far...

Great reach from Alcaraz on the volley before the Spaniard finds his first ace to hold to love. Now Medvedev will have the chance to serve for the set.