The former world No. 1 saved all five break points he faced and served 16 aces in one hour and 49 minutes. He won 84 per cent of points behind his first serve.
Royer was runner-up here in 2025. Medvedev said that made the first match anything but routine. “Valentin is a very tough player. He played in the final here last year, so I knew it’s not an easy first round. I managed to serve very well in the important moments, really happy with that. And I think my level was pretty good.”
The 30-year-old Russian is chasing a third title of 2026. He described the court as fast and said both men played aggressively. “I managed just to win a couple more points in the important moments.”
Earlier, China’s Buyunchaokete beat eighth seed Kamil Majchrzak 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 6-2. He had only one tour-level win this season before this week and now has two in Hangzhou. Roman Safiullin came from a set down to defeat fourth seed Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. Buyunchaokete and Safiullin meet in the last eight.
Medvedev moves on as favourite on home-from-home hard courts, still hunting that third trophy of the year.