Daniil Medvedev wasn't ready to face Martin Landaluce in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Rome Masters. To be fair, as well as Landaluce started the match, no one could have been prepared. He played like a multi-time Grand Slam champion, not one with a career losing record.
Of course, that last part, while true, is misleading. The Spaniard only recently turned 20 years old, and, like his countrymen, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, he appears to have a game tailor-made for clay courts. Medvedev has won events on the surface, including the 2023 Italian Open, but he is not at his best on clay.
The first set was just a wipeout. Landaluce overpowered the great defense of the Russian. Medvedev was consistently playing defensively, but was likely as stunned as everyone watching about what was happening. Landaluce had a record of just 6-17 entering the Rome Masters and had to be a lucky loser to get into the main draw.
Martin Landaluce comes up short in a coming-of-age match against Daniil Medvedev at the 2026 Rome Masters
The Spaniard landed 65 percent of his first serve, but won 85 percent of those points. He had nine winners and just three unforced errors. Medvedev, the former No. 1, was nearly the reverse at three and eight, respectively. The set one score of 6-1 didn't even feel that close.
Almost as stunning as the first set was the second, but in the wrong way for the Spaniard. He dipped slightly in form and was broken twice. This happened while the wily veteran Medvedev ticked up in form. While Landaluce still played relatively clean tennis, he was not playing the same high-quality of the first set. Yet, Medvedev could still not completely put him away.
The Russian got two breaks, but each time, even at 5-3 with Medvedev trying to serve out the set, Landaluce broke back. Medvedev then backed into taking the set as he broke Landaluce, who was suddenly struggling to land his serve and had four double faults in the set.
The Spaniard quickly re-established his lead in the third set as he got a break in the first game and then consolidated it with a hold. After a Medvedev hold, Landaluce finished off his next service games with nerves of steel by delivering a beautiful drop shot that Medvedev clearly wasn't expecting.
The only question that remained was whether Landaluce would suffer a case of nerves at winning the most important match of his life. Serving at 3-2, Medvedev did get the break with an epic return backhand from off the court. It was a shot that few players could pull off successfully.
The players then traded holds, and a third-set tie-break seemed likely. Medvedev was winning by hitting extreme angles, and Landaluce was winning by hitting excellent drop shots. Serving at 4-5, Landaluce was pushed to break point three times (which were also match points), and each time the young Spaniard found a way to save the game, and finally held.
The crowd by this point was becoming fully engaged with the brilliance of both players. The match wasn't simply one of greatness, but one of the best of the year, with each player finishing set three in top form.
Serving to get to the tie-break, though, Landaluce wilted. Medvedev broke him at love to take the final set 7-5. An unfitting end to an otherwise fantastic match.
Daniil Medvedev will next face much stiffer competition, though. He will play Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. The ATP No. 1 has won five straight Masters tournaments, including his last 32 Masters matches. He has dropped two sets total in those matches.
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