Danil Medvedev was two points from defeat, but he came back from one set down to beat 2021 Miami Open champion Hurkacz 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) reaching the semifinals at the National Bank Open in Toronto.
Medvedev avenged his recent defeat against Hurkacz in the fourth round at Wimbledon last July.
Hurkacz earned his first break to take a 4-2 lead after a double fault from Medvedev. The Russian player made 16 unforced errors, including a bounce smash to drop the first set 6-2.
Medvedev saved two break points to hold serve for 3-3 and dropped just two points on his serve en route to the tie-break. Medvedev earned a set point, as Hurkacz hit his smash into the net, and sealed the tie-break 7-5 to level the score.
Neither player dropped their serve in the third set en route to the tie-break. Medvedev fired his 23rd ace to seal the tie-break 7-5.
“He had his chances and he was probably the better player for at least two sets, but that’s tennis. We both have great serves and I managed to hit some aces when I needed to. It was definitely not easy. He was on top of me, but to win matches like this gives a huge
Medvedev set up a semifinal match against John Isner, who extended his winning streak to nine consecutive matches to beat Gael Monfils 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. Isner has won 11 of his past 12 matches, including his 16th ATP Tour level title in Atlanta.
Monfils came into this match with a 7-5 lead in his 12 previous head-to-head matches. Isner earned six break points in the first set, but Monfils saved them. Monfils came back from 1-5 down in the tie-break of the first set but Isner fired an ace to win the first set.
Monfils needed a medical time-out to treat his right Achilles tendon. Isner earned his only break at love in the ninth game with a double fault from Monfils to take a 5-4 lead before serving out the win. “I didn’t fare too well in the ATP Cup in 2020 in the only time I played him, so I am going to have to change up some tactics, but I am definitely playing better now than I was then”, said Isner.
