The key facts

  • Medvedev beat Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and advanced to the Shanghai Masters semifinal
  • 20-year-old Rafael Jodar beat Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 — the youngest semifinalist of the tournament since 2009
  • Second semifinal: Zverev — Davidovich Fokina

Medvedev overcame Paul's resistance

Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion, defeated American Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and advanced to the Shanghai Masters semifinals. The Russian, ranked sixth in the world, had to cope with an unstable serve: in the sixth game of the first set he saved seven break points, then secured a break when Paul sent the ball out. Paul, world No. 18, played an inspired second set, showing solid defense, and got back into the match after two double faults from Medvedev in a game the Russian should have won. In the deciding set the Russian went up 2-0 and closed out the match on his second match point. 'Today I was a bit out of sorts, but I managed to pull myself together,' Medvedev said after the match, noting that when he plays well, he is hard to beat.

Jodar — the youngest semifinalist since 2009

Earlier, 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, world No. 13, defeated Norway's Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. He became the youngest semifinalist of the tournament since its first edition in 2009. Jodar dropped the first set — Ruud converted a break point and took the set with an ace-forehand into the corner. In the second set the Spaniard, despite a spectacular over-the-shoulder shot in the fourth game, lost it, but then broke his opponent's serve at 5-4 and closed out the set. Ruud, world No. 24, saved three match points in the third set, but erred on his serve, handing the win to Jodar. 'Casper is a very tough opponent, today I had to show my best level,' Jodar said. This is already his fourth consecutive match at the tournament in which he came back after losing a set.

Second semifinal

In the other semifinal, which will take place on Saturday, tournament top seed Alexander Zverev will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.