Daniil Medvedev is enjoying another great run in Shanghai. The 2019 champion faced a top-10 rival Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final and secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory in an hour and 53 minutes.
The Russian endured all the challenges from the other side and earned a notable victory that keeps him in the title chase. Daniil claimed 12 points more than Alex and prevailed in the pivotal moments.
He saved all six break points and provided two breaks from six opportunities on the return, which made the difference. The Aussie struggled behind the second serve and failed to extend the battle despite a solid effort.
Medvedev landed 27 winners and 25 unforced errors. He outplayed his rival in service winners, at the net and from the baseline to bring the win home and arrange the semi-final clash against Arthur Rinderknech.
They embraced 38 exchanges with nine strokes or more, and the Russian stood stronger in the rallies above four shots. De Minaur sprayed errors in the fifth game of the duel and experienced a break at love.
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Daniil denied two break points in the sixth game and held for a 4-2 advantage after a forced error. Alex saved a break point in the seventh game with a service winner and remained within one break deficit.
The Russian had to dig deep on serve again in the next one. He denied them with fine hitting and held with a backhand down the line winner for a 5-3 advantage. De Minaur closed the ninth game after deuces with a service winner and extended the set.
Medvedev served for the opener at 5-4 and denied a break point with a powerful serve. The former champion seized the third set point with a serve & volley combo, wrapping up the first part of the duel after an hour.
Alex saved two break points in the first game of the second set and avoided an early setback. The served well in the next six games, embracing more fluid holds and saving the time on the clock.
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Daniil saved a break point in the eighth game with a service winner and held after the rival's loose forehand. The Russian fired a forehand down the line winner in the ninth game and generated break points.
He cracked a marvelous backhand down the line winner on the second, providing a crucial break and moving in front. Medvedev served for the win at 5-4 and landed a service winner for match points.
He landed an ace on the first, celebrating a top-10 victory and moving into the semi-final.
