Medvedev Overcomes Tien in Thrilling Shanghai Masters Match
In a dramatic encounter at the Shanghai Masters, Daniil Medvedev managed to secure his place in the quarter-finals by defeating US teenager Learner Tien with a score of 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (1/7), 6-4. This victory marked a significant moment for Medvedev, as it came just over a week after Tien had eliminated him from the China Open semi-finals in Beijing.
Medvedev expressed his admiration for Tien, calling him an “unbelievable tennis player.” He added that Tien might be the toughest opponent he has faced outside of the big three players. The match was filled with intense back-and-forth exchanges, particularly in the first set where both players showcased their skills and determination.
The first set saw Medvedev break first in the ninth game, but Tien quickly retaliated. The final two games of the set were a thrilling display of skill, with both players facing breakpoints but managing to hold. Medvedev’s powerful lob in the tiebreak proved decisive, leading the crowd into a frenzy.
In the second set, Medvedev broke early, but Tien remained unfazed, breaking back in the fifth and seventh games. As the set progressed, Tien took a 3-0 lead, which caused Medvedev to show signs of frustration. Medvedev even limped before the second-set tiebreak, briefly consulting with a medic before returning to the court.
“I should be more calm, but Learner drives me nuts… I lost two very traumatic matches against him – so for sure I was scared to lose again,” Medvedev admitted after the match.
The third set was characterized by double-faults from both players, but Medvedev eventually broke in the ninth game with a backhand, securing his victory.
Preparing for a Tough Challenge Against De Minaur
Before the match, Medvedev acknowledged that he would need to rest his legs ahead of his next challenge against world No 7 Alex de Minaur. He humorously remarked, “We’re gonna run again.” De Minaur, who is the highest-ranked player left after several high-profile exits, advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a score of 7-5, 6-2.
De Minaur emphasized that the competition would still be tough, stating, “In our side of the draw, there’s a lot of quality players, so it’s still going to be a battle.”
Other Notable Matches
Another top-10 player, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, fell to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Auger-Aliassime, ranked 13th, showed strong performance throughout the match, breaking Musetti in the fifth game and dominating the second set with breaks in the fifth and seventh games.
“I knew it was going to be the toughest match of the week so far, and I knew I was going to have to raise my level, and I did,” said the 25-year-old Canadian.
Auger-Aliassime will face France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the next round. Rinderknech reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final after defeating Czech Jiri Lehecka with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Rinderknech’s cousin, Valentin Vacherot, also made it to the last eight on Tuesday and will face Denmark’s Holger Rune for a spot in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic is set to play against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs on Thursday for a place in the last four.
