Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the quarterfinals of the Mallorca tournament on Wednesday, while Nick Kyrgios opted to withdraw so as not to aggravate an injury days before Wimbledon.
Medvedev, number one in the world ranking, came from behind to beat his Russian compatriot Aslan Karatsev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Tsitsipas of Greece beat Russia’s Ilya Ivashka 6-4, 6-4.
Medvedev will now face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut, who advanced after Kyrgios withdrew ahead of their duel with an abdominal ailment.
“I came from playing many demanding games and unfortunately I woke up with pain in my abs. I went to see the tournament doctor immediately and he advised me not to play tonight,” said the Australian, ranked 45. “I highly value the Mallorca tournament but I will comply with his recommendation and I will not put Wimbledon at risk next week.”
Kyrgios took more than two hours to beat Laslo Djere 5-7, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (1) in the previous round of the Wimbledon grass-court tournament.
Kyrgios was one of the great attractions in Mallorca along with Medvedev and Tsitsipas.
Medvedev will not play this year’s Wimbledon because the All England Club has banned players from Russia and its ally Belarus over the war in Ukraine. Medvedev has lost two straight finals on grass.
Tsitsipas (seeded 6) will face Marcos Girón, who defeated fellow American Mackenzie McDonald 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Also on Wednesday, Argentina’s Sebastián Báez (seeded eighth) succumbed 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier.