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Sebastian Korda secured his first top-5 victory at the Shanghai Masters, ousting the defending champion Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 6-2 in the third round. The American beat the Russian for the second time in 2023, delivering aggressive tennis and keeping the points on his racquet.
Daniil played well in the opener, creating three set points and squandering his chances after two double faults. Korda prevailed and gained a massive boost, stealing the rival's serve two times and moving into the last 16.
Korda served at 76% and controlled everything behind the first and second serve. He denied the only break chances offered to Medvedev and broke world no. 3 two times en route to a massive victory. Sebastian fired 29 winners and 22 unforced errors, rushing to the net and outplaying Daniil in the shortest range up to four strokes.
Nothing separated them in the first set, with 12 commanding holds introducing a tie break.
Sebastian Korda took down Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in Shanghai.
Korda held after deuce in the fourth game with a service winner and locked the result at 3-3 with a hold at love two games later.
They barely lost a point behind the initial shot in the second part of the set. Medvedev closed the 11th game with a service winner, and Korda landed a volley winner in the next one to introduce a tie break. Sebastian sprayed a backhand error at 3-3 before pulling the mini-break back after Daniil's double fault in the ninth point.
The Russian created two set points at 6-4, squandering the second with a double fault and keeping the rival in contention. Korda denied the third set point at 6-7 following an incredible point, gaining a boost and clinching the breaker 10-8 after a forehand winner!
The American saved the only break point at the beginning of the second set, firing a service winner and keeping the pressure on the other side in the remaining games. Korda grabbed the first break in game two, placing a deep return and forcing Medvedev's error.
Sebastian cemented the advantage with a service winner in the third game and fired another two games later for 4-1. The younger player held after deuces in the seventh game, maintaining his advantage and opening a 5-2 gap. Medvedev served to stay in the match in game eight, experiencing more issues.
Korda seized the second match point with a backhand down the line return winner, wrapping up a rock-solid performance and moving into the next round.