SHANGHAI: Daniil Medvedev beat Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre on Friday to reach the Rolex Shanghai Masters semi-finals, where he faces Rafael Jodar.
Medvedev, the 2019 champion, saved seven break points in a lengthy sixth game of the first set. He later broke Paul to take the lead when the American hit long.
His victory lifted him two places to sixth in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) live qualification race. Medvedev is pursuing a place at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
Paul, ranked 18th, responded with stronger defence in the second set. He withstood Medvedev’s attempts to move him around the court and took control as the Russian’s serving faltered. Two double faults from Medvedev helped Paul force a decider.
The sixth-ranked Russian quickly recovered, taking a 2-0 lead in the final set. He held on to that advantage before breaking again to win on his second match point. Medvedev reached the Shanghai semi-finals for the third time.
Earlier, Spain’s Jodar recovered to defeat Norway’s Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. It was his fourth consecutive set-down victory of the tournament. At 20, the world number 13 became the youngest semi-finalist in Shanghai Masters history.
Ruud, ranked 24th, secured the opening set after converting a break point with a forehand into the corner. Jodar responded in the second, broke to take a 5-4 lead, then served out the set.
An over-the-shoulder smash drew attention in the fourth game, though the Spaniard lost it. He recovered to force a deciding set.
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Ruud saved three match points in the decider but eventually double-faulted. “I had to give my best level today to win this match,” Jodar said.
Medvedev and Jodar meet on Saturday in their first encounter. Top seed Alexander Zverev faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the other semi-final.
(With additional input from AFP)
