By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 10, 2019
Daniil Medvedev navigated a tricky encounter with Vasek Pospisil to set a quarterfinal with Fabio Fognini in Shanghai.
Photo Source: Getty
The ATP’s 2019 win leader added another notch in the victor’s column on Thursday in Shanghai, as Daniil Medvedev worked his way past Vasek Pospisil 7-6(7) 7-5 to book a quarterfinal with Fabio Fognini.
Fognini eased past Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-5 to book his first career quarterfinal in Shanghai.
Medvedev was tested thoroughly throughout the two hour and five-minute encounter and the Russian needed to save five set points in order to come through a 69-minute opener with the in-form Pospisil.
The World No.4 had to struggle in the second set as well, but he broke critically in the 12th game to ice a tense victory over the 29-year-old qualifier.
Pospisil, who was bidding to become the third qualifier to reach the quarterfinals at Shanghai, certainly created his share of opportunities. He was aggressive at the net and kept Medvedev off balance with a steady stream of big serves and textbook volleys into the open court.
It was a frustrating encounter for Medvedev to be sure, but he rose to the occasion whenever he had his back against the wall. Medvedev saved three set points from 0-40 down at 4-5 in the opener, and another two in the first-set tiebreaker.
Pospisil double-faulted at 5-6 in the breaker and then missed a return long with Medvedev serving at 6-7.
The Canadian enters the tournament ranked at 248 after making his return to tennis at Wimbledon after missing six months due to back surgery. He is projected to rise to 190 in next week's ATP rankings.
Medvedev looked as if he might be off to the races with a break early in the second and Pospisil suffering from fatigue and possibly a stomach issue (he saw the trainer in the second set and was doubled over in pain at times), but the Canadian rallied to break back and push Medvedev to the finish.
Medvedev finished with 20 winners and 19 unforced errors to go with 11 aces. The Russian improves to 56-17 on the season, and he has reached at least the finals of his last five events.