Daniil Medvedev 'happy' rivals are suffering in brutal Shanghai Masters conditions

Daniil Medvedev admitted he was "happy" to see his rivals suffering in the heat and humidity of Shanghai. The sweltering temperatures have certainly played their part in the opening week of the Masters event, with Medvedev offering a unique perspective on the conditions.

Medvedev is yet to drop a set so far across his opening two matches at the tournament, but Alejandro Davidovich Fokina certainly pushed him close in round two. The Russian needed a tiebreaker in the second set to progress with a straight-sets win against the Spaniard.

But the conditions have played their part so far, with Novak Djokovic the latest appearing to struggle as temperatures soared.

The former US Open winner was quizzed about the hostile conditions, with the humidity having reached around the 80 per cent mark.

He replied: "It was not easy, but actually I like this tournament, because I'm someone when it's probably like 28 [per cent] I suffer, many don't... I suffer many tournaments, here I don't. It puts me a little bit in the same conditions as everyone, so I'm happy."

It's a continuation of a strong Asian swing for Medvedev, who reached the quarter-finals of the Hangzhou Open, before making it to the semi-finals of the China Open, only to retire from his match against Learner Tien hurt. What's more, Medvedev has also linked up with new coach Thomas Johansson, with things looking like they've taken a turn in the right direction.

On his form, he continued: "I could have played better, I was a bit sloppy in the second set but I'm happy with the win and to get through. We haven't been together for a long time so what happens now shouldn't be on the coach.

"Things haven't been happening for a while now so I had to make the change and start to work with a new coach. I know how to play tennis but it's just the little pieces of advice that Thomas has given me that's really helped me. It's been good so far."

Medvedev will have the chance to right the wrongs of the China Open when he takes on Tien in the next round of the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. Tien has enjoyed another strong run in Asia, beating Miomir Kecmanovic, Corentin Moutet and Cameron Norrie so far in Shanghai.