Daniil Medvedev v Alexander Zverev - Medvedev reaches the semi finals with a straight sets win in the 2023 Nitto ATP World Tour Finals at The Pala Alpitour in Turin

Zverev shanks a forehand long and that’s it – Medvedev secures the victory and books his spot in the last four.

Sascha will wonder how he blew that first-set breaker and also had chances in the second, but Daniil played the big moments better and got the job done in one hour and 45 minutes.

The German reaches high into the sky for a backhand volley but it barely finds the net. He then arrows a forehand into the tramlines and Medvedev’s interest piques.

A big serve gets Sascha back into it before Daniil’s passive approach allows him to level at 30-30 with a rasping crosscourt backhand winner.

However, Medvedev guesses right on another crosscourt attempt and guides a backhand down the line to tee up match point...

There has been a suggestion the pendulum is swinging the way of Zverev and yet he isn’t producing the goods in the big moments.

At 15-30 he is well in the rally but can’t find the island with the smart idea to deploy a drop shot.

It must be catching as Medvedev follows up with a drop shot into the net to cough up break point, only for Sascha to drag a make-able backhand into the tramlines.

The German then slaps a timid forehand into the net to give Medvedev breathing space from deuce and the Russian scampers to safety with a scorching backhand down the line.

The No.7 seed probably feels he should have been serving for the set now, but instead he's serving to stay in the match.

Zverev chews the chain around his neck after a howler of a miss allows Medvedev a look-in from 30-0 down.

The German backs up a huge serve with a disguised feather touch to reassert his authority and then slaps away a volley to square the set.

Now then, we are getting into the serious business end of this set.

Medvedev keeps Zverev at arm’s length, switching up his serving tactics and delivering a wide ace to the AD side to close out a game to 30.

No danger there. Zverev makes it back-to-back love holds and quickly levels matters as the hefty first serve delivers the cheap points he was craving.

Clutch mode … activated!

Medvedev conjures up ace No.3 at 15-30 down and doesn’t look back with Zverev perhaps a bit too passive on the return with the game still in the balance.

Sascha is able to chuckle following a major tweener fail where he completely missed the ball.

It comes after a Medvedev lob that had already landed long and with a clean hold already in the bag, achieved via the help of his seventh ace of the evening.

It’s still early days in this set and both players have been untroubled on serve.

Medvedev marches through another tidy game, pushing the board in his favour and hoping to clinch the straight sets win that would see him qualify tonight.

Zverev needs a lift and plays a winning hand with a pair of aces to take that tally to six for the night and clinch a much-needed game to 15.

Medvedev lands what is only his second ace of the match to rubber-stamp a love hold and kick off Set 2 on the front foot.

Well, that is a Houdini act from Daniil in that breaker.

He somehow grinds it out by a 9-7 scoreline as Zverev’s jitters on the forehand cost him again before a backhand into the net concludes a one hour and three minute opener.

Zverev had been 4-1 up with the point on his racquet for 5-1 too...

What a rollercoaster!

That backhand volley miss at 4-1 looks like it might haunt Sascha as Medvedev surges back to 4-4.

Drama unfolds for 5-5 as Zverev blows a lob long after Daniil could only pick up a lucky return that somehow hit the tape and bounced over.

Medvedev should take charge but then smashes a sitter long himself before Zverev again follows suit with a timid forehand into the net on set point. Blimey!

Medvedev continues to test the Zverev forehand but it’s coming up trumps time and time again now. The German thunders a stunning winner for a 4-1 lead but then blows a volley into the net with point on his racquet.