Pablo Carreno Busta knocked out second seed Daniil Medvedev 6-2 7-6(5) to guarantee himself a medal match at the Olympics.
The Spaniard reached the final four in Tokyo with a fairly comfortable victory over the under-whelming Russian.
It was a match that saw both players find their range early with their groundstrokes as they held serve comfortably.
However it was Carreno Busta who would break first as his energetic energy followed by some aggressive shot-making sealed a 4-2 lead.
Medvedev seemed exhausted with his shot-selection and his ability to cover the ground as his shots lacked pace and depth.
Carreno Busta took advantage and with some clean, aggressive patterns of play broke again in the eight game to seal the opening set 6-2 in 42 minutes.
After a long bathroom break, Medvedev came out refreshed and returned to his supreme best as he covered the ground quickly and put the Spaniard in uncomfortable positions.
Medvedev’s returning pressure paid off as he broke for a 2-1 lead and kept consolidating until the seventh game with some effective point construction as well as accurate serving.
Despite the frustrating return games, Carreno Busta remained patient and kept trying to extend the rallies using a variety of angles as well as pace.
The patience paid off as a break back was earned for 4-4 in a set that would eventually result in a tiebreak.
Medvedev’s lack of first serves in the tiebreak would haunt him as Carreno Busta’s aggression saw him seal a place in the last four at the Olympic Games.
The Russian will leave the Olympics without a medal in what has been an exhausting week in dealing with the hot and humid Tokyo conditions.
As for Carreno Busta he will now guarantee himself a medal match and will face Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day Khachanov beat Ugo Humbert 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 to seal his place into the last four.
