Daniil Medvedev, 6th in the world, despite a sore ankle and a gashed thumb, never flinched to beat Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (28th) 6-3, 7-5 on Wednesday and advance to the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 d ‘Indian Wells, where American Frances Tiafoe awaits.
Barely 24 hours ago, doubts hovered over the Russian’s participation in this quarter-final or, at least, his ability to recover sufficiently after his 3:17 hours of effort, certainly paying off, against the German Alexander Zverev, knocked down 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5.
But obviously, his twisted right ankle, which had suddenly bent inwards and then immediately outwards, is much better after having swollen well and caused the winner of the US Open 2021 to suffer.
Faced with Davidovich, whom he had already beaten twice in as many confrontations, his runs and support betrayed no restraint or embarrassment.
“However, it was hurting me during the warm-up. I wasn’t moving well, but the painkillers helped I guess and then it got better as the game went on,” he said afterwards.
He also started strong, breaking from the start. Advantage that he kept without ever being worried on his service games to win the first set.
In the second set, the debates were rebalanced, the Spaniard making fewer unforced errors and more than resisting in the exchanges, despite a disturbing wind.
Then a breath of concern rustled through Stadium No. 1, when Medvedev found himself on the ground after slipping, trying to run towards a bunt from Davidovich, who erased a break point.
It was not the Russian’s ankle, which suffered instantly, but his right thumb cut at the level of the nail, after his right hand accompanied his fall to the ground. One more boo without consequence, because, after the band-aid break, Medvedev turned his back by saving three break points at 4-3 against him.
Davidovich’s opportunity had just passed. The Russian, on the other hand, did not fail to seize his service, to finish in 1:46.
First semi-final in Masters 1000 for Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe, 16th in the world, qualified in express mode for the semi-finals by beating Briton Cameron Norrie (12th), winner of the event in 2021, 6-4, 6-4.
The 25-year-old American reached the last four of a tournament in this category for the first time, just below the Grand Slams. He has won only one tournament on the ATP Tour, in Delray Beach in 2018.
” I am very happy. I feel like when I’m mentally well, I’m one of the best players in the world. Today is not just about reaching the semi-finals, I’m happy to beat a guy like him in this way, who has been playing so well lately,” commented Tiafoe.
It is indeed with authority and without fault, that he stopped Norrie, one of the players in form of the moment. The Briton had just won in Rio De Janeiro by taking the best in the final over the Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz (2nd).
Dominant in the exchanges, the American discouraged his opponent’s inclinations to the net with passing passes and constant pressure, while brilliant himself on the fly (12/15 successful).
His alone slowed down slightly, when the 27-year-old Briton took the break in the second set to come back to 5-4. But Tiafoe still had a serve lead and he didn’t flinch to finish in 1:39.
“At the end it was a little difficult, but it was one-sided and I’m really happy with my level of play. I’m tricky, I move well and I don’t give away too many free points. I have improved a lot as a player and it shows,” he added.
The American, who had never yet passed the 3rd round in the Californian desert, is currently on a perfect course since he has not lost a set in four games.
In the evening, the Canadian duo formed by Félix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov lost to Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 6-4 and 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the doubles tournament.
The Canadians lost their serve in the 11e game of the second inning before losing. They weren’t able to take advantage of one of their four break points during the clash which lasted 1 hour 23 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime will be back in action Thursday in the quarterfinals of the singles tournament. He will be opposed for the occasion to the world No. 2, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
