Daniil Medvedev beat 18 aces and 30 winners to advance to the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters semifinals on Friday, beating Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7/1), 6-3.
The 2019 tournament winner cemented the world number one spot in the rankings in his final main game against the US Open, winning in one hour and 40 minutes.
“With Cincinnati’s fast stadium, there are always tough games,” Medvedev said. “I knew it was going to be a tight match.”
The opening part took just over an hour to complete while the second part was done in about half the time.
Medvedev saved all six break points he faced while breaking only once.
“In the first set, he overpowered me a little bit. He has more chances. But I tried to stay, win the game and that helped me win the game.”
Medvedev reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final of the season, and his first since Paris Bercy last November.
Madison Keys beat Wimbledon champion Rybakina
In the women’s quarterfinals, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina saved three points before falling 6-2, 6-4 to Madison Keys..
Madison Keys will face Petra Kvitova in the semifinals. | Image source: AP
The Kazakh tennis player, who lifted the All England Club trophy last month by odds, left the pre-US Open event after 92 minutes as she descended to the American champion from 2019.
“Elena is a remarkable player who can turn the tide of the game at any moment,” Keys said without hesitation. “I need to stay out.
“Looks like I need 12 match points, so I’m happy to get the win. If you fight her, she will run you around.
Keys resumed his match against world number one Iga Swiatek on Thursday and was followed by Petra Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon champion who beat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-3.
“Obviously I had some battles against Petra. Win some, lose some,” Keys said of the Czech, with whom she split eight matches. “It’s never easy to play her, especially then in a draw, which means she plays some very good tennis.”
