Roland-Garros LIVE updates: Medvedev holds upper-hand over de Minaur with early break in first set

Alex de Minaur has some work to do as he trails 1-3 in the opening set.

Medvedev holds the upper-hand over de Minaur with an early break in first set.

De Minaur saved six break points before he was finally broken. He took the first game, but Medvedev has claimed the following two.

The Aussie is up against it, but showing a lot of fight and resilience early.

This from our tennis reporter Marc McGowan:

Agree or not with Medvedev being able to stop the point to say Demon’s shot was out, de Minaur has landed only eight of 18 first serves. That is not going to cut it. Demon has won only three out of 10 points on his second serve.

Early thoughts: Demon can’t win this making only half of his first serves.

Gets away with it in that game, but that isn’t the recipe for success tonight. He can’t rely on winning most of his service points with long rallies.

It was looking like it was going to be a tough start for the Aussie, who saved a break point at 0-40, but Alex de Minaur came back to take the first game.

An important settler after facing four break points. The 25-year-old is already showing variation in his game and has been able to move Daniil Medvedev from side to side.

Ok, we’re underway at Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Can Alex de Minaur overcome the odds with his career best form to beat six-time grand slam finalist Daniil Medvedev?

We’re about to find out. First serve de Minaur.

Many of Alex de Minaur’s clashes with Daniil Medvedev (Medvedev leads 6-2) have either been pivotal in the Australian’s career or on a significant stage.

Medvedev was the first top-five player de Minaur defeated, at the Paris Masters in late 2022 – at his 19th attempt against such a player – while the Russian rallied from a set down to beat the Aussie 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round at last year’s US Open.

New York was the scene for de Minaur’s sole grand slam quarter-final in the COVID era in 2020, when some of the top players did not compete.

Making the last eight tonight, on his least-preferred surface, would be a much bigger achievement for Demon.

We promise this time (I hope).

The match before Alex de Minaur and Daniil Medvedev’s has now wrapped up on Court Suzanne Lenglen (Jasmine Paolini beat Elina Avanesyan in three sets).

Demon v Daniill set for 9.15pm AEST. Now you can safely put the kettle on.

While Alex de Minaur doesn’t have to face any rain delays today – scheduled to face Daniil Medvedev on Court Suzanne-Lenglen with a retractable roof – he is waiting for the match before his to wrap up.

Elina Avanesyan and Jasmine Paolini have just hit the third set in their match on the court.

De Minaur and Medevdev shouldn’t be too much longer. Now set for 9pm AEST.

It’s not long now until Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur will take to Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

And folks, prepare for a late one. Gruelling (and very entertaining) rallies are the norm between these two – made especially the case on the clay surface.

If de Minaur is to grind out the victory, it’ll be the first time he’s reached the quarter-final at Roland-Garros and the second time ever in a grand slam.

Match now set for 8.35pm AEST.

All three of Alex de Minaur’s matches so far have been delayed or interrupted, with the event being mockingly branded the “Drench Open”.

His third round victory over German Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 was in a match halted for more than four hours.

Only Roland-Garros’ two main courts – Court Suzanne-Lenglen and Court Philippe-Chatrier – have a retractable roof, and de Minaur has not avoided off-Broadway scheduling despite his rankings ascent. He beat Struff all the way out on court 14.

However, tonight he’s on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, meaning he’s under a roof – and importantly, no rain delays.