Medvedev embracing pressure but says Nadal favourite; Kyrgios shakes off Covid concerns

DPA Berlin Daniil Medvedev is happy to be considered the favourite for the Australian Open title but says Rafael Nadal remains the man to beat at Melbour...

DPA Berlin Daniil Medvedev is happy to be considered the favourite for the Australian Open title but says Rafael Nadal remains the man to beat at Melbourne Park.World number two Medvedev is now the top-seeded player in the competition after Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday.Competing in his first grand slam since winning the US Open in September, Medvedev made a solid start by seeing off Henri Laaksonen 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) on Tuesday.The Russian, who lost last year’s Australian Open final to Djokovic in straight sets, will now take on maverick home favourite Nick Kyrgios in round two.He is aiming to become the first man in the Open Era to follow up his maiden Grand Slam title with another in his next major appearance.Medvedev is not shying away from the spotlight, but the 25-year-old considers Nadal the real favourite for the trophy because of his incredible record.“I like pressure but last year I started well here in Australia in the ATP Cup and I managed to be in the final here,” he said.“The tournaments in Australia are always really important for me. I like to play in Australia on hard courts. I want to do better here than I did last year but it’s not going to be easy.“But I always say whoever is the highest ranked is the favourite so this time I will go with Rafa because he has 20 Grand Slams.” The 20 major singles titles won by Nadal is equal to Djokovic and Roger Federer, who is also absent in Melbourne due to injury, as the most by a men’s player.Just one of those titles have come at the Australian Open, however, with the Spaniard - who beat Marcos Giron in his opening match on Monday - going all the way in 2009.Nadal and Medvedev are in opposite sides of the draw and are on course to meet in the final, but many challengers await between now and then.That path became a little clearer on Tuesday as world number eight Casper Ruud withdrew from the tournament due to an injured ankle.Ruud had been due to face Alex Molcan in the first round, but his place will be taken by lucky loser Roman Safiullin.Kyrgios makes light work of Broady The Nick Kyrgios show returned to the Australian Open as the maverick showman defeated Britain’s Liam Broady in the first round at Melbourne Park.Kyrgios has recently recovered from COVID-19 and was playing his first match since September, but his full bag of tricks was on show in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory.In front of a raucous crowd he set the tone with an underarm serve through his legs in his first service game and continued from there.It was a difficult role for Broady in his first main-draw match at the Australian Open, but he looked to be enjoying the experience nonetheless.Broady achieved a long-held goal by coming through qualifying with a fine win over Russia’s Roman Safiullin and will look to continue his push towards the top 100.Kyrgios showed once again, though, what an extraordinary talent he is, producing a display of clean and powerful hitting a week after being bedridden.“Obviously when I tested positive it wasn’t great news,” he said. “I had some doubts. But I couldn’t ask for a better team. The last week has been tough. I was lucky enough to have a tennis court just to hit some serves.“I don’t know what I’ve done to this crowd because you guys are a zoo, but I’m just super happy to be here again. This is my favourite court in the entire world.” Kyrgios, who paused to sip a fan’s beer on his way off the court, knows he is likely to have to leave John Cain Arena for the first blockbuster match of the tournament in the second round against Daniil Medvedev, the highest-ranked player in the draw in the absence of Novak Djokovic.And, if he can produce the same type of display, it could be a very uncomfortable assignment for the US Open champion.