Medvedev beats Paul to set up Shanghai semi-final against Jodar
SHANGHAI: Daniil Medvedev overcame a mid-match wobble to beat a fighting Tommy Paul on Friday and reach the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, setting up a Medvedev Jodar Shanghai semi-final against rising Spanish star Rafael Jodar.
Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion, beat Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 after inconsistent serving made the quarter-final far tighter than the scoreline suggests.
How Medvedev survived Paul
The 30-year-old Russian saved seven break points to hold back the American in a marathon sixth game of the first set, giving little away as he broke to take the set when Paul fired long.
But the 18th-ranked Paul returned inspired in the second set, displaying superb defence as Medvedev drove him around the court. He was rewarded when Medvedev double-faulted twice in a must-win game, and the match tumbled into a decider.
The sixth-ranked Russian steadied himself in the third, cruising to a 2-0 lead and carrying that momentum to the end, breaking again to win on his second match point.
It was a different kind of test from his previous round. Medvedev had beaten Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals, a match we covered in our Shanghai Masters quarter-final report. Against Paul, his serve deserted him at key moments, and only his returning in the decider kept the campaign alive.
Jodar, 20, keeps making history
Earlier, 13th-ranked Jodar beat Norway’s Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, recovering from a set down for the fourth time in a row this week.
Both players held serve at the start until Ruud capitalised on a break point, taking the first set with a searing forehand into the corner. But Jodar’s brilliance shone through, including a gorgeous over-the-shoulder smash in the fourth game of the second set that had the crowd on its feet.
Despite losing that game, the Spaniard held his nerve, won a crucial break point to go up 5-4, and closed out the set at the first time of asking. Ruud, ranked 24th, saved three match points in the third set but double-faulted to hand Jodar the victory.
At 20, Jodar is the youngest player to reach the Shanghai semi-finals since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2009.
“Casper is a very tough player,” Jodar said afterwards. “I had to give my best level today to win this match.”
What the Medvedev Jodar Shanghai semi-final means
The match-up is a study in contrasts. Medvedev is a former champion who knows exactly what it takes to win in Shanghai; Jodar is a 20-year-old playing the best week of his life and recovering from a set down in match after match.
Medvedev’s path suggests vulnerability. Seven break points saved against Paul, two double faults in a must-win game, and a second set that slipped away entirely. If his serve wobbles again, Jodar’s fearless returning could punish him.
Jodar’s path suggests belief. Four comebacks from a set down in one week is not luck; it is a player who trusts his game when the pressure rises. The question is whether that belief survives a first meeting with one of the tour’s great problem-solvers.
Top seed Alexander Zverev faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the other semi-final on Saturday. Zverev has already secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking after Carlos Alcaraz’s early exit in Shanghai, so the top seed plays the weekend with the season’s biggest prize already in the bag.
The original reporting on this development was published by Geo Super.
FAQ
Who won the Medvedev vs Paul Shanghai quarter-final?
Daniil Medvedev beat Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
Who does Medvedev play in the Shanghai semi-final?
Medvedev faces 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who beat Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in his quarter-final.
How old is Rafael Jodar and what record did he set?
Jodar is 20 and is the youngest player to reach the Shanghai semi-finals since the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2009.
Who is in the other Shanghai Masters semi-final?
Top seed Alexander Zverev, who has secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking, faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday.
