World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev defeated America’s greatest Taylor Fritz 7-6(1), 6-3 to advance to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.
Fritz was the higher participant for a lot of the primary set, and after the Russian was pressured to provide some massive serves to get out of strain, his clutch play and elite defence within the tiebreak and at first of the second set have been sufficient to take him via to the ultimate 4.
Truthfully a variety of positives, performed very stable, had my possibilities, didn’t take them 🤷🏻♂️ generally that’s the way it goes. Too good from Daniil at present however taking part in good going into @usopen https://t.co/gBfVvwqYmS
— Taylor Fritz (@Taylor_Fritz97) August 19, 2022
Medvedev takes on third seed and previous rival Stefanos Tsitsipas within the semifinal. The Greek survived a scare in opposition to the big-serving John Isner on Friday. After having to depend on his serve to take the primary set right into a tiebreak, Tsitsipas was handed a little bit of fortune as rain interrupted the breaker, following which he got here out zoned in to take the set.
Isner picked up a late break on the finish of the second to take the match right into a decider, however Tsitsipas confirmed his potential to soak up strain by benefiting from his one and solely break level within the third to win the match 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas will probably be assembly for a tenth time on tour having notched up a fiery, at instances private, rivalry ever since famously coming collectively in Miami again in 2018. Medvedev leads the head-to-head 7-2, however the Greek has received 2 of their final 4.
Incoming: STEFANIIL Half X
It’ll be a tenth assembly between @DaniilMedwed & @StefTsitsipas within the #CincyTennis semi-finals! pic.twitter.com/zZVUcK7cMF
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 19, 2022
Elsewhere, fourth seed Carlos Alcaraz bowed out of the event to Britain’s Cameron Norrie within the quarterfinal. The promising Spaniard’s 12 months on tour could also be going via a trough for the time being, however there isn’t any doubt that his potential to battle (he has received no less than a set in each single match he has performed this 12 months) and highlight-reel-worthy moments have rightly made him one of many largest names on tour.
A 🔥 L 🔥 C 🔥 A 🔥 R 🔥 A 🔥 Z@carlosalcaraz #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/P8h9uiLyCk
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 20, 2022
The duo’s match had its ups and downs. After a formidable opening set, Norrie discovered himself a break up within the second, just for Alcaraz to rebound and take the match right into a decider. The Spaniard led 3-1 within the third, earlier than the Wimbledon semifinalist was in a position to take it into one other gear to select up the most important win of his profession 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 6-3.
Norrie will tackle Croatia’s Borna Coric, a former Masters 1000 finalist and World No. 12, whose profession progress was derailed by damage. Coric has been spectacular this week although, taking down Rafael Nadal in three units within the second spherical, and storming previous Felix-Auger Aliassime within the quarterfinal.
