Medvedev keeps hot streak going in U.S. Open first round

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits a backhand against Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World No.5 Daniil Medvedev continued his recent good form with a 6-4 6-1 6-2 first-round win over Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India at the U.S. Open on Monday, despite taking a medical timeout for treatment.

The 1.98-metre Russian relied on his power serve to advance to the second round, winning 84% of his first-serve points and committing 20 unforced errors to Gunneswaran's 36.

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits a backhand against Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

"First set was really great from him. It was really tough. I'm happy that I managed to win it 6-4," Medvedev told reporters.

"Then he dropped his level... I tried to stay consistent throughout the whole match."

After firing off a forehand winner to clinch the second set, the fifth seed called for the trainer and lay flat on his stomach to have his buttock muscles massaged.

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India hits a backhand against Daniil Medvedev of Russia (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Medvedev, 23, charged through the third set in the Louis Armstrong Stadium in the latest of a series of impressive performances for the rising Russian, who has contested three successive ATP singles finals this month.

Most recently, in Cincinnati, Medvedev won against David Goffin after beating Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

Asked if he could challenge tennis' "Big Three" -- Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer -- Medvedev said that he was not going to get ahead of himself.

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daniil Medvedev of Russia serves against Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

"At this moment of my career I haven't even been in the quarters of a slam yet," said Medvedev. "So that's the first step to make, and if I make this step, then I can talk about bigger goals and bigger achievements."

(Reporting By Amy Tennery; editing by Clare Fallon and Pritha Sarkar)

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India serves against Daniil Medvedev of Russia (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daniil Medvedev of Russia receives treatment from an ATP trainer during a medical timeout against Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India (not pictured) in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 26, 2019; Flushing, NY, USA; Daniil Medvedev of Russia (R) shakes hands with Prajnesh Gunneswaran of India (L) after their match in the first round on day one of the 2019 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports