Former champion Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive record in Toronto on Wednesday when he defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi 6-2, 7-5 at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers.

The second seed is now 8-1 in Toronto, having lifted the title in 2021. Competing for the first time since his run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, Medvedev looked in control in his opening match at this year’s event, standing deep behind the baseline to outlast Arnaldi in the baseline exchanges.

”Yeah I felt great,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “I could have done a little bit better in the second set, but at the same time I saved break points in two or three games, so pretty good match. From here I need to improve.

“Pretty hot conditions like usual in US summer, so I need to get used to it. In the second set I was already tired, but that is normal. Two or three matches and you are used to it. I looking forward to the next days.”

He saved all three break points he faced, struck 29 winners and fended off an Arnaldi resurgence in the second set to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series after one hour, 26 minutes. In the third round the 27-year-old will meet Lorenzo Musetti, after the Italian downed Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The World No. 3 is chasing a record-equalling sixth tour-level title of the season this week (Carlos Alcaraz 6). Medvedev, currently third in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, clinched ATP Masters 1000 crowns in Miami and Rome in 2023.

Arnaldi, who competed at the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals, earned his maiden tour-level hard-court win against Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the first round.