Daniil Medvedev is through to his fifth consecutive ATP semi-final. Daniil faced a qualifier Chris Eubanks in the Miami Masters quarter-final and earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory in an hour and 29 minutes for a place in the last four. The Russian will seek a place in his fifth ATP final in a row against Francisco Cerundolo or his coeval and friend Karen Khachanov. Eubanks qualified for the main draw and had a great run en route to the last eight, earning enough points to enter the top-100 on Monday. The American lost serve twice in each set to propel the better-ranked opponent through despite a great effort in set number two. Medvedev fired nine aces and defended five out of six break points in two troubled service games to keep the pressure on the other side. Daniil tamed his strokes nicely and hit 18 winners and 16 unforced errors. Chris counted 20 direct points and 35 mistakes, spraying them equally from both wings. Medvedev hit 28 service winners and left the rival far behind in the shortest range up to four strokes.
Daniil Medvedev defeated Chris Eubanks in the Miami Open quarter-final.
Eubanks played well in the more advanced ones, but it was not enough to keep him in contention. The home player made a better start, producing three comfortable holds and pushing the rival to the limits at 2-1. Medvedev sprayed double faults and played against five break points. He stayed calm and defended them with service winners to get out of jail and avoid an early setback. The rivals left the court after the fifth game due to the rain delay and continued the duel half an hour later. Eubanks squandered a 40-15 lead in game seven and sprayed a forehand mistake to suffer a break and fall 4-3 behind. The American served to stay in the set at 3-5 and placed a loose volley long to give the Russian two set points.
Medvedev seized the first to wrap up the opener in 43 minutes after rattling off four straight games. The servers were too strong at the start of the second set, with Medvedev leading 3-2. Chris squandered a 40-15 advantage in the sixth game and got broken after Daniil’s backhand crosscourt winner that sent him 6-3, 4-2 in front. Suddenly, Medvedev’s serve stopped in game seven, and he got broken after hitting a forehand wide to keep the rival on the positive side. The servers barely lost a point in the next four games, and Chris served to introduce a tie break at 5-6. He netted a backhand right after the serve to fall 40-15 behind and offer Daniil two match points. The home favorite saved both with volley winners at the net before Medvedev earned the third with a powerful return. Eubanks missed a routine forehand to hand the victory to his opponent.