Living spaces: Daniil Medvedev adapting to Madrid's condensed courts 

By now, we know Daniil Medvedev prefers to have all the space in the world on a tennis court. Who could forget when he gave Jim Courier a masterclass on his trademark deep return position during his run to the Australian Open final in January?

At the Mutua Madrid Open, that luxury isn’t widely available. With his second-round match against Matteo Arnaldi taking place on Court 3 and Monday’s clash with Sebastian Korda booked for Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Stadium, the 2021 US Open champion has been presented abbreviated playgrounds to work with.

“The courts here except the central court are a bit smaller than I would like, so I play like someone is pushing me in the back,” he told ATP Media. “Even though my serve when I don't need that much space, the feeling is still there. It’s like someone is pushing you in the back the whole match. Both matches, I needed to get used to this feeling."

Medvedev has found a way to survive on both occasions in tight three-setters. After rallying past Arnaldi Saturday, the No. 3 seed was two points from exiting against Sebastian Korda. Holding from deuce at both 4-5 and 5-6 in the second set, Medvedev eventually secured the lone break of their deciding set before serving out the match to knock off the American for the second time this season (Indian Wells third round).

Needless to say, it’s been a trial-and-error process for the 28-year-old.

“Especially on clay, I feel like you need more space than on hard court. The ball is bouncing higher. I like to take it on the low, you need like two more meters than (what) is here,” he said following a 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory.

“On the second serve, I’m always questioning myself. Do I step in where I don’t feel the most comfortable? Do I stay back and I have the chance that I’m gonna have a tough ball to play anyway and being far, if you don’t play a good shot, you’re in trouble? Sometimes I lost points doing both, sometimes I won some points. Really happy with what happened today.”

The world No. 4 is through to the fourth round of the Masters 1000 event for the second year running, having fallen to qualifier Aslan Karatsev 12 months ago. Medvedev meets Alexander Bublik, who eliminated Ben Shelton, for a place in the quarterfinals. The No. 17 seed has lost all five of his prior encounters with Medvedev.