Sebastian Korda upsets Daniil Medvedev at Shanghai Masters, Dan Evans secures meeting with Carlos Alcaraz
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Updated 08/10/2023 at 14:04 GMT
The Shanghai Masters continued to deliver thrilling upsets on Sunday as world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev was sent home by American Sebastian Korda. The world No. 26 prevailed in a tight tie-break in the first set, but swept to victory in the second. Elsewhere, Dan Evans' opponent Mikhail Kukushkin retired hurt to hand the Brit a quarter-final berth against Carlos Alcaraz.
Highlights: Medvedev crashes out to impressive Korda in Shanghai
Daniil Medvedev exited the Shanghai Masters after a surprise straight-sets defeat to American Sebastian Korda, 7-6(8) 6-2.
The world No. 3, who won the title in 2019 the last time it was held, began the match well enough, holding three of his first four service games to love, but Korda kept pace.
Neither player gave up a single opportunity at a break in serve and so a tie-break was required.
The Russian had three set points but couldn't convert. Korda then let slip his first set point but took it at the second time of asking after 54 minutes on court.
Another opportunity was missed in the first game of the second set as Medvedev failed to close out a break point, allowing Korda to escape.
In the second game, Korda did take his own break-point chance, before holding serve for a 3-0 lead.
Medvedev steadied with an excellent service game, but when Korda responded in kind the Russian was in trouble at 4-1 down.
He held again and pushed hard for a break in Korda's next service game but couldn't get over the line.
In the final game Medvedev successfully saved a first match point, but couldn't repeat the trick and Korda advanced after just under an hour and a half.
Medvedev, technically the reigning champion after his win four years ago - subsequent editions were cancelled due to COVID-19 - had received a bye to the second round where he saw off Chilean Cristian Garin in straight sets, but his stay in Shanghai ended at the third round as Korda moved on.
The American will face either Marton Fuscovics or Francisco Cerundolo in the next round.
Britain's Dan Evans secured a last-32 berth against Carlos Alcaraz when Kazakhstani qualifier Mikhail Kukushkin retired hurt midway through the second set.
Evans had been dominating Kukushkin, laying down six aces and winning 93% of his points on first serve while breaking the world No. 245's serve four times.
Alcaraz, the top seed at the event, reached the third round with a straight-sets victory over Gregoire Barrere.
Elsewhere, Casper Ruud also advanced to the next round after an untroubled victory over Christopher Eubanks, 6-4 6-2.
The world No. 9 was in trouble early, needing to escape two break points in his second service game, but claimed the crucial break - to love - in the fifth game. That allowed him to serve out the set after just 35 minutes.
Ruud narrowly missed a break in the first game of the second set, once again taking Eubanks' serve in the fifth game. The American brought up three break points in the following game, but Ruud fought back to hold serve.
At 4-2, Eubanks threw everything at Ruud but the Dane broke serve once again before serving out the set and match in the next game.
Ruud cruised past Yoshihito Nishioka in his first match in Shanghai, and will face Hungarian Fabian Maroszan in the next round.
Cameron Norrie was upset by American JJ Wolf in a three-hour slog, losing 6-3 5-7 7-6(4).
The first set was a thrilling battle with both players saving multiple break points - eight in total - but Wolf claimed the crucial break in the seventh game of the set, breaking Norrie again to take the set.
Norrie got off to the perfect start in the second set, breaking Wolf's serve in the opening game. He did the same in the seventh game - this time to love - to move into a strong 5-2 lead in the set.
Wolf hit back with a break of his own to make it 5-3 and another in Norrie's next service game squared the set at 5-5, before Norrie broke back once again before serving out the set.
After 102 minutes of blistering tennis, the match headed into the decisive set.
It was more of the same from both players as nine break points were successfully defended.
Norrie did break Wolf's first service game, but the American broke back in the tenth game of the set and ultimately a tie-break was required.
Wolf prevailed after a 77-minute set to clinch the match, winning the decisive final points on Norrie's serve.
Italian Matteo Arnaldi awaits Wolf in the next round.
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