Daniil Medvedev will play in the Shanghai Masters quarter-final. The 2019 champion faced Learnen Tien in the fourth round and prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 6-4 in two hours and 52 minutes.
It was a grueling battle between two brilliant baselines, with extended exchanges and all kinds of drama. The American claimed one point more after pushing the rival's second serve to the limits.
However, he converted three of five break points and got broken four times from 12 chances presented to the better-ranked rival. Daniil provided five comfortable holds in the decider and moved over the top with a late break.
They served well in the opening eight games. The young gun sprayed a backhand error in the ninth game to lose serve and fall 5-4 behind. Daniil served for the set in game ten and netted a backhand to lose serve and keep his rival in contention.
Learnen saved three break points in the 11th game and earned a set point on the return in the next one. Medvedev saved it with a service winner and held for 6-6 and a tie break.
ADVERTISEMENT
It started with six mini-breaks, and we saw two more at 4-4. The American saved a set point at 5-6 with a fine attack before the Russian seized the second with a smash winner at 8-7, closing the first part of the duel in 75 minutes.
Medvedev broke in the second game of the second set and forged a 3-0 advantage. Learnen saved two more break points in the fourth game and provided breaks in games five and seven to move in front.
Daniil pulled the break back in game ten after a left-hander's backhand error, leveling the score at 5-5 and extending the battle. The set went into a tie break, and Tien had the upper hand.
The young gun earned three mini-breaks and forced a decider when his rival hit a double fault in the eighth point. Medvedev received a medical timeout ahead of the third set and delivered five fine holds.
ADVERTISEMENT
Learnen saved a break point in the third game and stayed in touch until 4-4. However, he faced issues in game nine and sprayed a forehand error to drop serve and fall 5-4 behind.
Daniil served for the win in game ten and landed a service winner to emerge at the top and prevail after a massive battle.
