World number two overcame a slow start to beat unseeded American Tommy Paul 3-6 6-1 6-4 6-3 on Wednesday and reach the third round of the French Open.

After dropping the opening set, Medvedev took command in the second where he consolidated an early break to race ahead 3-0 and then after Paul held serve the Russian won 12 of the final 14 points of the set to pull even.

Medvedev, who had been knocked out in the first round of the tournament over the four previous years, broke twice in the third set to pull ahead and then served out in style with a hold to love in a 53-second game.

Paul twice broke Medvedev’s serve in the fourth set and fended off a match point to keep the affair alive with a nimble net game but the Russian kept his poise to end the bout with a powerful backhand shot.

Daniil Medvedev Overcomes Slow Start to Reach French Open Third Round

The runner-up to Rafael Nadal at the 2019 U.S. Open and to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open this February next plays American Reilly Opelka