Daniil Medvedev will compete in the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters. The 2019 champion faced Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round and earned a 6-3, 7-6 victory in an hour and 51 minutes.
The Russian has played well in the previous weeks, reaching the Beijing semi-final and hoping for another good run in Shanghai. The 18th seed clinched 17 points more than his rival.
Medvedev dominated with his first serve and grabbed 33 of 35 points. He denied the only break point and mounted the pressure on the other side. Davidovich Fokina fought well in the second set but could not follow that pace.
The Spaniard gave away 39% of the points in his games and faced nine break points, seven at 3-5 in the first set!He saved eight but lost hit the exit door after losing serve once in the opener and dropping a tight second set.
Daniil landed 23 winners and 11 unforced errors. He forged the advantage in service winners and from the baseline to have the upper hand in the shortest, mid-range and most extended rallies.
ADVERTISEMENT
Medvedev lost three points on serve in the opening set and provided three holds at love. Alejandro netted a backhand in the second game to drop serve and send his rival in front.
They served well in the upcoming games, and the Russian landed an ace at 4-2 for a hold at love. He made the ultimate push on the return in game eight and generated seven set points!
Davidovich Fokina defended them, including an underarm serve and held after 16 minutes to extend the battle. Medvedev left those chances behind and held at love with a service winner at 5-3, wrapping up the first part of the duel in 45 minutes.
The Spaniard raised his level and provided six comfortable holds in the second set. He welcomed the rival's forehand error in the fourth game and generated his only break chance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Daniil saved it and kept his initial shot intact. They served well in the next eight games and introduced a tie break. It started with five straight mini-breaks, with Medvedev moving 3-2 up following a cracking forehand down the line winner.
Davidovich Fokina responded with a backhand winner in the seventh point, reducing the deficit to 4-3. However, he missed another point on serve and fell 5-3 behind.
Medvedev drew the rival's mistake at 5-4 and generated two match points. The Spaniard saved it and earned a chance to extend the duel. Still, he netted a routine forehand at 5-6 to propel his rival over the finish line.
