Medvedev sets up meeting with Fritz in Cincinnati quarter-finals

Daniil Medvedev gets past Denis Shapovalov in two tight sets at the Cincinnati Masters on Thursday. Taylor Fritz is next for the Russian after Fritz beat a different Russian, Andrey Rublev.

Daniil Medvedev, Cincinnati 2022 – © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

August 18, 2022

Daniil Medvedev defeated Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 7-5 in round three of the Western & Southern Open at the Linder Tennis Family Center on Thursday afternoon. Medvedev generated 13 break-point chances and converted three of them while advancing after one hour and 46 minutes.

“The match was pretty tight,” Cincinnati’s top seed assured. “I thought that it was a great level…. Today in general was much better (that the previous match against Botic van de Zandschulp), especially the second set.”

By reaching the quarter-finals, the Russian would have remained No 1 in the world at least through the US Open even if Rafael Nadal had not lost to Borna Coric on Wednesday night.

Meddy marches on 👍@DaniilMedwed comes through a spirited battle with Denis Shapovalov, 7-5 7-5 at #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/F1zEya3tvk
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 18, 2022

Fritz next for Medvedev in quarter-finals

Medvedev will play American Taylor Fritz, the No 11 seed, in the quarters on Friday.

“Taylor is a great player,” Medvedev said. “We have practiced quite a lot of times. I think he beat me in practice. I told my coach, ‘wow, he’s going to have a great year.'”

The 26-year-old is most definitely right about that. Fritz is up to No 13 in the world and so far this week he has defeated Sebastian Baez, Nick Kyrgios and Andrey Rublev.