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Four years after playing in his first clay-court Masters 1000 semi-final, Daniil Medvedev is through to another at the Rome Masters. Daniil lost to Holger Rune and Aslan Karatsev in Monte Carlo and Madrid, and things are looking much better for him at Foro Italico.
The Russian met Yannick Hanfmann in the quarter-final and earned a dominant 6-2, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 20 minutes for a place in the last four. Hanfmann scored some notable wins en route to the quarter-final, although he could only do a little against the better-ranked rival.
Daniil kept Yannick on three service winners, despite the German serving at 71%! Medvedev grabbed 60% of the return points and turned them into six breaks from ten opportunities. Medvedev defended four out of six break points to control the scoreboard and sail into the semi-final.
The Russian hit 22 winners and 16 unforced errors. He left his opponent on an 18-29 ratio and outplayed him in the shortest and more advanced exchanges.
Daniil Medvedev scored a dominant victory over Yannick Hanfmann in Rome.
Daniil found the range on the return right on and grabbed a break at love in the encounter's first game after Yannick's loose backhand. Medvedev threw the advantage away after a double fault in the second game before securing another break at 1-1 to restore the order.
The Russian held at love in game four to cement the lead and created two more break chances in the next one after a perfect drop shot winner. Hanfmann netted a forehand on the first and pushed his rival 4-1 in front. Medvedev held after two deuces in game six with a backhand crosscourt winner and served for the opener at 5-2.
Daniil faced two break points and denied them with winners before sealing the set 6-2 in 36 minutes with a service winner. With no unreturned serves or free points on his tally, Yannick got broken again at the start of the second set after a wayward forehand.
Daniil worked hard and defended break points in the second game to bring it home and move closer to the finish line. The German landed another loose forehand in the fifth game to fall 4-1 behind and closer to the exit door.
Medvedev squandered game points in game six and lost serve after Hanfmann's forehand winner at the net. Daniil played an incredible point in the seventh game and placed a forehand winner for three break chances. He seized the second to open a 5-2 gap and serve for the victory.
Daniil held at 30 in game eight to seal the deal in style and set the semi-final clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas or Borna Coric.