By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday October 8, 2023
Sebastian Korda notched his second consecutive win over Daniil Medvedev to reach the round of 16 in Shanghai.
Photo Source: Getty
Daniil Medvedev had high hopes as he entered the Shanghai Masters draw, having won the title the last time the event was played in 2019. But the Russian was sent to a swift exit by surging American Sebastian Korda, the same man that prematurely ended his run at this year’s Australian Open.
Korda saved three set points in the first set and rolled in the second to prevail, 7-6(8), 6-2.
“I should have won the tiebreak but didn't,” World No.3 Medvedev said. “That's the biggest difference. Gave him a little boost so he started playing even better in the second set.”
26th-seeded Korda, who has now won eight of his last ten matches, will face either Marton Fucsovics or Francisco Cerundolo in the second round.
He improves to 1-6 lifetime against Top-5 competition, and 6-10 against the Top-10.
Medvedev is 23-2 against players ranked outside of the Top-20 on hard courts in 2023, with both losses coming at the hands of the 23-year-old Korda.
“I’m just really happy to get that first set under my belt and then it was just a matter of getting into one of his service games and hopefully taking it home after,” Korda said.
The American is picking up steam in a season that felt lost when he was hampered by a wrist injury that left him on the sidelines for three months. He reached the semifinals in Zhuhai and the final in Astana before coming to Shanghai, where he defeated China’s Yunchoakete Bu 6-1, 6-4 in the first round.
“It’s been a very difficult year for sure," said Korda. "I had a long pause on my year for three months, especially when I was playing some of the best tennis of my career so far. It was difficult, but it’s a long journey and I’m happy with the way I played today. It’s definitely one of the biggest victories in my career for sure.”
Ruud defeats Eubanks, Fils Tops Davidovich Fokina
No.8-seeded Casper Ruud notched a 6-4, 6-2 win over American Chris Eubanks, setting a round of 16 clash with Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, while Frenchman Arthur Fils completed back-to-back victories at a Masters 1000 event for the first time, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-2, 7-5.
Ruud's win is important as he needs to make up ground in the Race to Turin standings - the Norwegian is 315 points behind 8th place Holger Rune in the standings at the moment.
"At this stage of the season I'm currently number 10 in the Race to Turin, so I know every week is going to matter, and that's motivating and a bit stressful at the same time, but I like the battle and the competition," Ruud said.
American Ben Shelton defeated Roman Safiullin, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, and will face either Jannik Sinner or Sebastian Baez in the round of 16.