Daniil Medvedev has raced into the semifinals of the Los Cabos Open with a comprehensive win over Ricardas Berankis.
The top seed dropped just four games during his 6-2, 6-2, victory over the Lithuanian world No.98 in what is his first tournament for over a month. Medvedev was particularly impressive behind his first serve where he won 21 out of 24 points played and remained unbroken throughout. At one stage of the match, he won eight games in a row en route to sealing the victory.
“My opponent played very different, much more aggressive,” Medvedev said afterwards.
“To be honest, against that type of player sometimes you don’t have much to do. Just try to serve well, bringing the balls back in the court.
“That’s what I managed to do. He missed a little bit too much today and that was enough.”
Earlier this week Medvedev defeated qualifier Rinky Hijikata to record his 250th Tour win. Becoming just the second player born after 1995 to do so on the men’s Tour. This season alone he has achieved 29 wins against 10 losses on the Tour.
Awaiting the Russian in the semi-finals will be Miomir Kecmanovic who is through to the last four of an ATP event for the second time this season. Kecmanovic beat Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-4, in his quarter-final match.
“He is a great player, very strong and is improving this season,” Medvedev said of his next opponent. “I know I have to play my best, as I have been doing. Here you need to win four matches for the title, I already owe two but the more I advance the more pressure. There are four great players (in the semi-finals).”
The upcoming match will be key for Medvedev’s reign as world No.1. Should he win, he will generate enough points to keep him in the top spot until at least the end of the US Open where he will be defending 2000 points as the reigning champion.
In the other half of the draw, Cameron Norrie continued his title defence with a 6-3, 7-6(4), win over Radu Albot. He has become the first player in history to have won 10 matches at the tournament. Albot is the 19th consecutive player ranked outside the top 100 Norrie has beaten on the Tour.
“I know Radu, he is a great competitor and athlete. I didn’t really start my best again today so had to fight from behind,” said Norrie.
“I was ahead in the second set and then got a little nervous there, then he upped his game.
“I served for the match but played a terrible game. But that happens and I had enough confidence to accept it was OK and relax, then play a good tie-break after that.”
Norrie will next play Felix Auger-Aliassime who beat Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6(3). He trails the Canadian 0-4 in their head-to-head and has already lost to him twice this season.
