Tennis-Medvedev motors into second round, laments 'impossible' schedule

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2022 Russia's Daniil Medvedev in action during his first round match against Switzerland's Henri Laaksonen REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Daniil Medvedev conserved his energy after his shortest ever off-season with an efficient straight-sets win over Swiss battler Henri Laaksonen on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Australian Open.

U.S. Open champion Medvedev, favoured to win the title at Melbourne Park following Novak Djokovic's deportation, had only 14 days' rest at the end of 2021 before firing up for Russia's run to the ATP Cup semi-finals this month.