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World no. 3 Daniil Medvedev remains on the China Open title course. Daniil defeated Ugo Humbert 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in two hours and six minutes in the Beijing quarter-final, setting the semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev. Ugo beat Daniil in their previous two duels, and the Russian was ready to change that today, starting all over in the decider and celebrating his first victory over the Frenchman.
It was Medvedev's 58th victory of the season, looking good to reach the 60th in Beijing or Shanghai. Daniil hit nine double faults and got broken four times from five chances offered to Ugo. The Russian erased the deficit with almost half of the return points on his tally, turning them into six breaks from 12 opportunities and terminating the rival's resistance in the decider.
Humbert was a more aggressive player, landing 27 winners and 44 unforced errors. However, Medvedev tamed his strokes more efficiently, landing 25 service winners and emerging at the top in style.
Daniil Medvedev ousted Ugo Humbert in three sets in Beijing.
They served well in the encounter's opening games before trading four consecutive breaks, staying neck and neck and leveling the score at 3-3. Ugo netted a routine forehand in the ninth game, losing serve and allowing Daniil to wrap up the opener with a fine hold in the next one.
The Frenchman denied two break points at the start of the second set and gained a boost. Ugo served well in the remaining games, keeping the pressure on the other side. Humbert blasted a forehand down the line winner in the seventh game for 4-3 and pushed strong on the return in the next one.
Daniil squandered two game points in the eighth game and hit a double fault, offering his rival a break chance. The Russian hit another to drop serve and send the Frenchman 5-3 in front. Ugo closed the set with a service winner in game nine, forcing a decider and hoping for another good run.
They traded breaks in games two and three, and Humbert missed a game point at 1-2. The Frenchman saved a break point with a forehand winner before spraying a massive error on the second to fall 3-1 behind. Medvedev clinched another break in the sixth game, opening a tremendous 5-1 advantage and serving for the victory. Daniil landed an ace in game seven, holding at 15 and securing a place in the semi-final.