Saturday , November 23 2024

Sinner, Alcaraz reach quarter finals

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Shanghai, October 9 (Hindustan Reporter) World number one Jannik Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals after both won in straight sets on Wednesday to reach the last 8.

Sinner beat American Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6(1), while Medvedev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece 7-6(3), 6-3. 16th-ranked Shelton had defeated Sinner at the same stage last year, but on Wednesday the Italian looked confident from the start and won in 88 minutes.

“It was very tough, you don't have that much control when you play against them… I just tried to stay strong mentally,” Sinner said.

World number five players Medvedev and Tsitsipas were face to face for the 14th time. Tsitsipas started the second set strongly, breaking in the first game, but Medvedev broke in the fourth and eighth games to take the lead. Medvedev and Sinner have met four times in the final stages of the tournament this year.

Sinner had defeated Medvedev in the semi-finals at Miami, the quarter-finals at the US Open and the final at the Australian Open, but the Russian had ended the Italian's hopes of reaching the last eight at Wimbledon in a thrilling five-set clash. World number two player Carlos Alcaraz has also reached the quarter-finals, who had defeated Sinner in the final of China Open a week ago.

21-year-old Alcaraz registered his 12th consecutive win by defeating experienced Gael Monfils 6-4, 7-5.

The 38-year-old Frenchman had upset Alcaraz in their previous meeting in Cincinnati in August, and the Spaniard admitted it was on his mind during the match.

“I am really happy that I won the match, and I remained calm throughout the match,” he said.

“Playing against Gayle is never easy… you need to concentrate on every ball,” he said.