Daniil Medvedev: “If I'm Playing Well, I'm Tough To Beat” After Surviving Paul Test
Shanghai Masters final four confirmed. Medvedev to face history-maker Jodar and top seed Alexander Zverev meets Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday.
Medvedev downs Paul to book Jodar clash in Shanghai Masters semi-finals...
Daniil Medvedev battled through a mid-match dip to hold off a resilient Tommy Paul on Friday and punch his ticket to the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, where rising Spanish talent Rafael Jodar awaits.
At just 20, Jodar has become the youngest semi-finalist in Shanghai since the tournament began in 2009.
The 2019 Shanghai champion shrugged off a shaky serve to get past Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
The 30-year-old dug in to save seven break points during a grueling sixth game, then stayed solid to break as Paul sent a forehand long to drop the opener.
The world No. 18 came out rejuvenated in the second set, however, soaking up pressure with superb scrambling as Medvedev tried to push him from corner to corner.
His persistence paid off when Medvedev threw in two double faults in a game he had to hold, sending the contest into a decider.
The world No. 6 raced to a 2-0 advantage in the third and never let it slip, breaking once more to close it out on his second match point.
“I think today I was a tiny bit off,” Medvedev said afterwards, crediting his rival for making it a “tight” battle.
“I managed to regroup,” he said. “If I'm playing well, I'm tough to beat.”
Earlier, world No. 13 Jodar rallied past Norway's Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 coming back from a set down for the fourth straight match this week.
“Casper is a very tough player,” Jodar said afterwards. “I had to give my best level today to win this match.”
Top seed Alexander Zverev will meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Saturday's other semi-final.
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