Yibing Wu is through to his second ATP semi-final in his hometown! The Chinese faced Daniil Medvedev in the Hangzhou quarter-final and earned a notable 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory in three hours and 11 minutes.
Thus, the 25-year-old ousted the favorite despite a 7-5, 5-3 deficit! The Russian stood two points away from the finish line in the tie break. He failed to bring the win home and got broken once in the final set tohit the exit door.
Medvedev has not won an ATP title since May 2023. He entered Hangzhou with the new team in his boxand claimed one win, hoping for a better run in Beijing. Daniil asked for a medical timeout on his right hand in the closing stages of the match.
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The Russian claimed three points more than the Chinese. World no. 18 saved four of six break points and squandered eight of ten opportunities generated on the return. Medvedev hit more winners and fewer unforced errors.
He dominated service winners 41-22 but lost the edge from the baseline. Medvedev had a slim edge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, while nothing separated them in the mid-range and most extended ones.
Wu denied three break points in the seventh game of the opening set. Daniil closed the tenth game after deuces and made another push on the return in the next one.
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He welcomed Yibing's loose backhand and provided a break that sent him in front. Medvedev landed a service winner at 6-5, closing the opening set in 57 minutes and gaining a boost.
The Russian had a massive chance to break the rival's resistance in the first half of the second set. World no. 18 served well and provided a break in the first game after a strong defense and a backhand down the line winner.
Wu faced two more break points in the fifth game that could have sent him closer to the exit door. The Chinese saved them and stayed in touch, although the Russian served well and forged a 5-3 lead.
Daniil served for the set at 5-4 and hit a costly double fault on a break point to keep his rival in contention. The set went into a tie break, and the better-ranked player rattled off five points from 0-4.
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Wu responded with a forehand down the line winner in the tenth point and drew the rival's mistake for a set point. The Chinese seized it with a service winner, introducing a decider after two hours and 17 minutes.
They wasted a break point in games three and four of the final set. Yibing held at 15 in game six for 3-3 and made a push on the return in the next one. Daniil squandered a game point and fell on the third break chance after the rival's forehand winner.
The hometown hero held in game eight with a service winner for 5-3. Medvedev extended the battle before receiving a medical timeout on his right arm. Wu served for the win at 5-4.
He held at 30 with a service winner to emerge at the top and celebrate a notable victory.
