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Aslan Karatsev will compete in his first Masters 1000 quarter-final in Madrid. World no. 121 stunned world no. 3 Daniil Medvedev 7-6, 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes for a career-best result in this series and his first top-10 victory since Rome 2021 following another win over his compatriot.
Aslan played better behind the first and second serve and prevailed in the crucial moments. Karatsev defended three out of four break points and stole Medvedev's serve two times from as many chances to seal the deal in straight sets and secure a place in the last eight.
Aslan dominated with his forehand and fired 27 winners and 20 unforced errors. Daniil added eight winners and 11 unforced errors, primarily defending and failing to impose his strokes against a fine ball striker. Despite hitting fewer service winners than Medvedev, Karatsev built a massive advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes that carried him over the top.
Aslan Karatsev defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets at the Madrid Masters.
Aslan held at love in the encounter's first game before Daniil pushed harder on the return at 1-1. World no. 3 seized the second break point after an extended rally and the rival's loose backhand.
Karatsev stayed focused and broke back in game four following a powerful forehand down the line winner. Aslan sprayed a forehand error in the seventh game and experienced two break points. He denied them and brought the game home after Medvedev's backhand error for a 4-3 advantage.
Daniil left those chances behind and fired an ace in the eighth game to level the score at 4-4. Karatsev responded with a perfect hold in game nine and sprayed a forehand error in the next one for 5-5. Aslan moved 6-5 ahead with a strong serve before Daniil introduced a tie break.
The lower-ranked player cracked a sharp return to grab a mini-break in the second point and opened a 4-1 gap with a backhand crosscourt winner. Karatsev painted a forehand winner in the sixth point to extend the advantage and earned five set points with a forehand down the line return winner!
They served well at the start of the second set before Aslan forced Daniil's mistake in game five for a break chance. Medvedev played another tough shot, sending it wide to experience a break and falling 3-2 behind. Karatsev used this momentum with both hands and served well in the remaining games to control the scoreboard.
He served for the victory at 5-4 and landed a forehand down the line winner to emerge at the top and achieve his career-best Masters 1000 result.