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Daniil Medvedev matches career-high season win total by reaching Vienna semifinals

The world No. 3, who beat Karen Khachanov Friday, is two wins away from successfully defending a title for the first time.

ByTENNIS.com

Published Oct 27, 2023

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Will Daniil Medvedev go back-to-back at a tournament for the first time in his ATP Tour career?

The world No. 3 is two wins away from achieving the feat in Vienna. On Friday, Medvedev overcame countryman Karen Khachanov, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open.

“It was a very close match. At the end, one break each set. I’m happy that I managed to make two and he only made one,” Medvedev told the World Feed afterwards.

Medvedev improved to 5-1 against Khachanov.

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Medvedev’s one hiccup in the contest came when he served at 2-3 in the second set. The top seed saw three game points go to waste before Khachanov converted his first—and only—break point of the day. Regrouping, Medvedev made the most of an early break in the deciding set to regain control, finishing off his good friend after two hours and 16 minutes.

With the victory, Medvedev tied Carlos Alcaraz for the most match wins on the year with 63. He also equaled a career-best season total achieved in 2021, the year Medvedev became a major champion at the US Open.

“Tennis is a strong sport, hopefully I can get one more win at least,” a smiling Medvedev said. “I’ve had an amazing season. Honestly, if I would have played a bit better in Grand Slams, that would be by far my best season But it’s not finished yet.”

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MEDVEDEV'S SEASON WIN TOTALS:

2023: 63
2022: 45
2021: 63
2020: 28
2019: 59
2018: 43
2017: 24
2016: 5

*Tour level

The 27-year-old is seeking his sixth trophy of the year, having triumphed for the first time at Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami and Rome. He has twice come within a victory of successfully defending a title, both as 2021 wrapped up at the Rolex Paris Masters and Nitto ATP Finals.

For a shot at raising the trophy on Sunday, Medvedev will first need to get past No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek defeated wild card Borna Gojo, 7-6 (4), 7-5, further bolstering his case to join Medvedev at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin next month. Tsitsipas is next in line to qualify for the eight-man event, with three spots remaining up for grabs.

In later action, 2020 champion Andrey Rublev held off fifth seed Alexander Zverev, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3. The third seed will meet No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner in the other semifinal after the Italian avenged his 2021 loss here to Frances Tiafoe with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

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