The world number three was the top seed for this week’s tournament after arriving in the Netherlands following his run to the Australian Open final but was dumped out in just over 90 minutes by Serbian Lajovic, currently ranked 27th.
Medvedev had 25 unforced errors against Lajovic’s 12, along with eight double faults, and he broke his racket in frustration. The third-ranked Russian last played Feb. 21 in his straight-sets loss to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
Russian Medvedev threw his racket down in a fury after being broken in game nine of the second set, having a row with the umpire and starting the final game with a point penalty as a result. Daniil Medvedev became the latest big name to fall in the first round of the Rotterdam ATP after losing in straight sets 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to Dusan Lajovic.
“I think I was very focused the whole match,” Lajovic said. “This was the key today, not to make the little mistakes.”
The 30-year-old Serbian player faces Borna Coric of Croatia in the second round.
The defeat was painful for Medvedev as he would have taken number two spot in the world rankings from Rafael Nadal, who withdrew from the tournament with a back injury, had he reached the final.
Zverev, 23, was dumped out by Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik on Wednesday in a shock straight sets 7-5, 6-3 defeat.
RESULTS
Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, def. Alexander Zverev (3), Germany, 7-5, 6-3.
Tommy Paul, United States, def. Lorenzo Sonego, Italy, 6-4, 7-6 (7).
David Goffin (6), Belgium, def. Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, 6-4, 6-0.
Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, def. Daniil Medvedev (1), Russia, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
Fabrice Martin and Jeremy Chardy, France, def. Lukasz Kubot, Poland, and Wesley Koolhof (3), Netherlands, 6-4, 6-3.
