Unseeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech qualified for the semi-finals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Friday with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 12 seed Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.
It was the third top-20 victory for Rinderknech en route to his first appearance in a Masters 1000 final foursome. Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 13, fell in just 87 minutes to join No. 3 Alexander Zverev and No. 19 Jiri Lehecka on his list of victims.
After his quarterfinal victory, Rinderknech raised his arms and looked toward his cousin Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, an even more unlikely semifinalist in Shanghai.
“It’s huge. First of all, I followed my cousin,” Rinderknech said. “He was going through emotions on Thursday and I’m trying to follow him, fight and do the same thing as him. It’s been incredible since the start of the tournament.
“The whole family has been following us from home. We’re in our own little world here. It’s been amazing and today was a good performance from me and I’m happy it’s straight sets so I’m not too tired for tomorrow.”
The cousins ​​both played collegiate tennis at Texas A&M.
Rinderknech is the Frenchman to reach the semi-finals of this event, alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2013, 2015) and Gilles Simon (2014, 2016). He saved all three break points and converted both break chances against Auger-Aliassime, who had only lost his serve once throughout the tournament.
Next up for Rinderknech as he seeks his first title is No. 16 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-4, 6-4 winner Friday against No. 7 seed, Australian Alex de Minaur.
In the other semi-final, Vacherot will face Serbian Novak Djokovic, five-time Shanghai champion and seeded No. 4.
Medvedev needed an hour and 53 minutes to finish de Minaur in a game that featured more than 30 points and lasted more than nine shots.
“I was super tired and I knew that against Alex… we would have a lot of points. I think in the third or fourth game we had a few and I thought it was going to be a long day, but I’m happy with the way I played,” Medvedev said. “I was really effective in the important moments, I hit the ball well and put pressure on him. The second set was tight but I found the best at the end. I’m really happy with the level.”
Medvedev won 15 of 16 points on his first serve in the second set and finished the match with a 27-16 advantage in the winners.
–Field level media
