Daniil Medvedev is on a promising path to secure his place in the ATP Finals for the seventh consecutive year as he advances through the Almaty Open, where he is currently seeded second. Medvedev’s impressive performance escalates him to 13th place in the Race to Turin rankings, crucial for the coveted eight-player field.
In a tightly contested quarterfinal match, Medvedev overcame Fabian Maorozsan with a score of 7-5, 6-2. The match was not without its challenges; he faced three set points while serving at 4-5 in the opening set. Despite these hurdles, Medvedev showcased his resilience and precise play, striking 27 winners against only 12 unforced errors.
Reflecting on his match, Medvedev noted, “The first set was really tough, I had to save three set points. But I’m really happy with the way I played, especially after that moment. I served well today, and I managed to step up my game when I needed to, so I hope I can continue this level of performance.”
Awaiting Medvedev in the semifinals is Australian qualifier James Duckworth, who pulled off an impressive upset over third seed Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-3, 6-2. Duckworth’s victory marks his second semifinal appearance at this event, having reached the final back in 2021. He delivered a strong performance, efficiently saving all five break points he faced against Cobolli, who struggled to handle Duckworth’s agility and precision for the duration of their 91-minute match.
In the other half of the draw, the sixth seed Alex Michelsen fought back from a break down in the final set to secure his place in the semis, defeating Shinator Mochizuki with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The 21-year-old American is now on a quest for his first ATP title and will next face Corentin Moutet, who dispatched Jan Lennard Struff in a hard-fought quarterfinal, winning 6-4, 7-5 after nearly two hours of play.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Medvedev, Duckworth, Michelsen, and Moutet as they vie for a spot in the final and the chance to take home the championship trophy in Almaty.
