Medvedev subdues Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-5 in Shanghai Rolex Masters fourth round

With the “Big three” no longer in contention at this Masters 1000 event – Jannik Sinner out till next year with a knee injury and Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz losing early, Daniil Medvedev from Russia has his eyes firmly on the prize. As the only remaining champion in the draw (2019 d. Zverev), the former world #1 looks to secure his spot at the season-ending championships in Turin.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the former world #3, is reascending the rankings and is currently #43. With a title on the clay in Gstaad this past July, he’s gaining ground and building confidence. Last season, the twenty-eight-year-old from Athens, Greece was hampered by a chronic back injury.

He eliminated two seeded players en route to the round of sixteen: #18, Luciano Darderi and #11, Taylor Fritz. With six hardcourt titles and five wins out of fifteen over Medvedev, including Doha at the start of the season, he clearly posed a threat.

Medvedev won the toss and elected to receive. Tsitsipas gifted a double fault, faced double break point and deuce but held while Medvedev opened and closed with winners including an ace up the tee on game point to level.

Andy Wong/AP Photo

Tsitsipas hit three consecutive unforced errors and dumped serve, while Medvedev struck two consecutive aces to consolidate the break, 3-1. Tsitsipas continued to struggle on serve and though he faced break point and deuce, held after the Russian netted the return.

The 2021 US Open champion hit three outstanding, consecutive winners to hold at love while Tsitsipas faced double break point yet held for 3-4 with an incredible inside-in forehand. Medvedev, serving with new balls, missed three consecutive first serves but held with a formidable forehand crosscourt and a monster serve out wide.

Tsitsipas, serving to stay in the set, missed 3/6 first serves but held to 30 with two consecutive forehand winners. The world #6 served for the set and, though he opened with his first double fault, clinched it with a dipping crosscourt forehand and a dropshot hit on the run.

Tsitsipas served first in the second and with two winners including his second ace, held at love while Medvedev struck his fourth ace and held to 30 to level. Tsitsipas made 3/4 first serves, hit three consecutive winners, and held at love for 2-1 while Medvedev leveled at two with a terrific crosscourt forehand.

Tsitsipas opened the fifth with a blistering backhand down the line and held easily to 15 while Medvedev unleashed a 125mph serve up the tee and held to 30 with a forehand swing volley winner. Tsitsipas serving with new balls, opened and closed with winning overheads while Medvedev opened with his fifth ace and held for 4-4 with a potent serve up the tee. Tsitsipas opened the ninth with his third ace and held at love with two additional winners, including an ace out wide.

The former world #1 serving to stay in the set, faced deuce but held for five-all with two consecutive winners, including an ace up the tee. Tsitsipas had successfully bided his time, upping his level as Medvedev’s dipped ever so slightly. As the pressure mounted, he faltered; Tsitsipas gifted three consecutive forehand errors and dropped serve with an overcooked backhand.

Medvedev served for the match and a quarterfinal berth. He hit two consecutive winners, including an ace up the tee, and secured victory when his opponent shanked a forehand down the middle.
It was a master class from Medvedev at the penultimate Masters 1000 tournament of the season. He played with precision, power, and poise. He struck 8 aces to 1 double fault and won 85% of first and 61% of second serve points. He was quite effective when returning, winning 29% of first and 45% of second serve return points. He did not face a break point while converting 2/7!
In the quarters, he’ll face an opponent he’s defeated four times out of five, including all three on outdoor hard. Tommy Paul from the United States may have dropped out of the top ten at #18 but won three of his five titles on indoor hard.

En route to the quarterfinals, he took out the 17th seed and defending champion Valentin Vacherot and Zizou Bergs, who eliminated Alcaraz in the third round. This will be their first tour level meeting since Indian Wells in 2025 and the first in Shanghai.