Jannik Sinner proved too strong to overcome for Daniil Medvedev once again as he bested him in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
The rivalry between these two players is probably one of the most bizarre rivalries in the history of the ATP Tour. At first, it seemed like the young Italian player couldn't find a way to beat Medvedev, as the Russian led the H2H 6-0 after their first six matches.
However, Sinner sensationally flipped the script, and with this victory, he won seven of the last eight matches they played. Coming into this match, the H2H between Medvedev and Sinner showed 7-6 for the Russian, but the reigning World No. 1 player now managed to level it.
This match was likely one that Medvedev will want to forget. Coming into it, the former World No. 1 had injury concerns, which also hindered him in this match.
Of course, it needs to be mentioned that Sinner was once again just too solid. He won 12 of the first 14 points of the match, quickly establishing a 3-0 lead.
Medvedev could then hold his serve, but another dominant streak from his opponent followed. The top seed won 12 of the next 15 points to win another three consecutive games and easily close out the first set, winning it 6-1.
After the opening set, Medvedev requested a medical time-out, as it was obvious that he was not at his best and was struggling with an injury that bothered him already in the match against Tsitsipas.
Still, he chose to continue fighting, but throughout the match, he couldn't produce any break point chances. At the same time, he was quite busy saving his opponent's break points on his serve.
Already in the third game, the top seed had one chance to break, but Medvedev saved it. The Russian then led 40-0 on his serve in the fifth game, but he lost that serve and was broken.
Both players then held their serve, and the scoreboard showed 4-3 for Sinner, as Medvedev requested yet another medical time-out to receive a massage of his shoulder that has been bothering him.
Unfortunately for him, that didn't change anything in this match. Despite heroically trying his best in the last three games of the match and getting to half-chances to push his opponent, the Russian player didn't use his only break point in this match, which came when the Italian was serving for the match, to make this match more dramatic.
The result was Sinner's comfortable win in two sets, 6-1, 6-4, which sent him into his maiden semi-final at the Shanghai Masters, as he was eliminated already in the fourth round last year by Ben Shelton, who he bested this year in the same stage.
Sinner's next opponent will be the winner of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Tomas Machac. Should the Spanish player win, fans will hope to be treated to another delightful clash between the two youngsters.
The Italian will likely observe his rival, as did Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, observe Sinner, as he was in attendance for this quarter-final match in Shanghai.
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