Medvedev outlasts Fils in third-set tiebreak to reach Indian Wells semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev successfully secured another semi-final spot at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday afternoon, but to say that it wasn’t easy would be a gross understatement.

Medvedev survived a fourth-round thriller against Arthur Fils at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, California, prevailing 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7). The world No 5 needed two hours and 25 minutes to advance.

“Arthur made a great match,” Medvedev praised. “That’s why you didn’t see me going crazy or frustrated (in the second and third sets), because I was playing great. I knew, look, I’m doing what I can — I’m playing really good. I’m making good shots, and he’s just a bit better at the moment. I think it was 4-2 in the third. I was, like, ‘if I continue this way I will have maybe my chance to come back. If I don’t, congrats and we go to the next one.’

“So he played a great match. Tactics [were] tough because it was very windy. Whatever shots we both were doing, it was even sometimes a little bit, depending who got the swirl, like some of the shots you get the swirl and you frame it or you miss it.”

Next up for Medvedev on Saturday is Holger Rune, who knocked off Tallon Griekspoor earlier on Thursday — also in a three-setter.

In the previous rounds of the Indian Wells Masters, the Medvedev defeated China’s Bu Yunchaokete (6-2, 6-2), American Alex Michelsen, the No 31 seed (2-0 ret.), and American Tommy Paul, the No 10 seed (6-4, 6-0).

Fils, ranked No 21, reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final by beating Canadian lucky loser Gabriel Diallo (6-2, 6-2), Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 15 seed (3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3), and American Marcos Giron (6-2, 2-6, 6-3).

Indian Wells Masters 1000, other last 8 results:

• Francisco Cerundolo vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Ben Shelton vs. Jack Draper
• Holger Rune beat Tallon Griekspoor: 5-7, 6-0, 6-3

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