Alex de Minaur produces best win of his career in Toronto

Alex de Minaur had never reached a Masters 1000 series semi-final and had a horror record against his top-ranked opponent in Toronto.

Alex de Minaur of Australia celebrates during his clash with Daniil Medvedev in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Alex de Minaur ended Daniil Medvedev’s winning run at the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday, surprising the second seed 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 to reach the semi-finals.

Australia’s De Minaur will make his first semi-final appearance at the Masters 1000 level against unseeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who beat Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 6-2.

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Medvedev had won his last seven matches in Toronto, including a title run in 2021.

But the 27-year-old was unable to get past the efficient game of No. 18 De Minaur, who had lost four of five previous meetings with Medvedev.

The unseeded Aussie broke the spell last November with a win in Paris.

Alex de Minaur of Australia celebrates during his clash with Daniil Medvedev in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

“I had to play my best tennis,” De Minaur, last weekend’s Los Cabos runner-up said. “It’s been a great week for me so far.

“Beating him last year gave me the confidence for this match. It’s always a complete chess match between us, we’re both adaptable and can play many styles of tennis.

“He brings out the best in me. The way I played today was the best style of tennis that I could produce.”

De Minaur needed more than an hour per set to prevail against the world number three.

Alex de Minaur was down 2-5 in the first set, then he was down 2-5 in the tiebreak against Daniil Medvedev.

He won that set.

Yesterday, he was down 1-5 in the first set and faced set points against Fritz.

He won that set.

Demon is ALIVE. 👿 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/DEE3MgcuJ6

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 11, 2023

The Aussie saved three set points in the opener and claimed the victory on his own second opportunity as Medvedev double-faulted.

De Minaur was playing his ninth quarter-final of the season and after beating ninth-ranked Taylor Fritz on Thursday has now earned two top-10 wins in the same event for the first time in his career.

Medvedev, meanwhile, suffered only his third loss this season at a Masters tournament.

Daniil Medvedev had beaten De Minaur in four of their previous five meetings before today’s quarter-final. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Davidovich Fokina advanced in 97 minutes on his third match point against Mackenzie, who beat an injury hobbled Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

The 37th-ranked Spaniard, who reached the final Monte Carlo last year, continued a strong week that saw him topple world number five Casper Ruud on Thursday.

“Beating top players is giving me a lot of confidence,” Davidovich Fokina said.

“I want to step on the court and play my best, enjoy every point.

“Today I got the battle I wanted, but I thought it would be tougher. I believe in myself and that is giving me a lot of power.”