Daniil Medvedev Secures 50th Top-10 Career Win to Reach Shanghai Masters Semifinals
Daniil Medvedev achieved another incredible milestone at the Rolex Shanghai Masters by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets.
The former world number one played outstanding tennis, reaching his second straight semifinal following a strong showing in Beijing last week.
With this victory, Medvedev recorded his 50th career win over a Top-10 opponent, becoming only the second man born after 1990 to do so.
Only Alexander Zverev has more, with 56 such victories, while Medvedev now leads Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in this elite list.
This semifinal appearance also marks Medvedev’s 50th hard-court semifinal of his career, underlining his dominance on the surface once again.
The Russian star showcased patience and precision, breaking De Minaur’s serve at 3-2 in the first set and again at 5-4 in the second.
His aggressive down-the-line backhand sealed the match, demonstrating his trademark consistency under pressure against the No. 7 seed Australian.
Medvedev’s stats were slightly cleaner throughout the encounter, hitting 27 winners against 25 unforced errors in an intense two-hour battle.
In contrast, De Minaur produced 16 winners but committed 27 errors, unable to convert any of his six break-point opportunities.
“I knew against Alex we would have long rallies, but I stayed focused and played my best tennis,” Medvedev shared post-match.
He added that his clutch performance in key moments made the difference, especially during tight points in the second set.
The Russian’s excellent rhythm and ability to deliver powerful serves kept his opponent constantly under pressure throughout the contest.
With this win, Medvedev continues proving his resilience and tactical intelligence on hard courts against some of the world’s best players.
Next, he faces French surprise semifinalist Arthur Rinderknech, who upset Felix Auger-Aliassime earlier in the day in straight sets.
Rinderknech has beaten three Top-20 players this week, including Zverev, Lehecka, and Auger-Aliassime, reaching his first Masters 1000 semifinal.
Medvedev leads their head-to-head, winning their only previous meeting in the 2022 US Open second round in straight sets.
Fans eagerly await this semifinal clash, where Medvedev aims to secure a place in another Masters 1000 final and add to his legacy.
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