Recent rivals Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev remain on a collision course for the semifinals at the Shanghai Masters. But before that they have respective quarterfinal contests on their hands with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Fabio Fognini.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (6) Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas said this summer at Queen’s Club that Felix Auger-Aliassime was the toughest opponent he has ever faced. The 21-year-old Greek will most likely be reassessing that opinion following the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Tsitsipas ended a five-match losing streak against Auger-Aliassime with a 7-6(3), 7-6(3) second-round victory and now runs into Djokovic in the quarterfinals on Friday. The world No. 7 upset Djokovic 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 at the 2018 Toronto Masters but lost their second encounter 6-3, 6-4 in the Madrid final this spring.
Based on current form, something along the lines of their more recent meeting is likely in store for Friday. Djokovic has been dominant on the Asian swing so far, with an easy title in Tokyo followed by straight-set wins this week over Denis Shapovalov and John Isner. Tsitsipas struggled this summer before finishing runner-up to Dominic Thiem in Beijing. Shanghai’s sixth seed followed up his defeat of Auger-Aliassime by outlasting Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(5) on Thursday. With Tsitsipas likely fatigued and Djokovic on fire, this should be one-way traffic.
Pick: Djokovic in 2
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(3) Daniil Medvedev vs. (10) Fabio Fognini
The head-to-head series between Medvedev and Fognini also stands at 1-1 heading into Friday. Fognini prevailed 7-6(5), 6-4 at the 2017 Cincinnati Masters before Medvedev got the job done 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 last season in Sydney. Both men are playing stellar tennis in 2019, with Medvedev having already clinched a debut appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals and Fognini looking to join him in London. The fourth-ranked Russian is bidding for a sixth consecutive final in what has been an amazing stretch that has seen him triumph in Cincinnati and St. Petersburg to go along with a memorable U.S. Open run. Medvedev has remained scorching hot this week with straight-set defeats of Cameron Norrie and Vasek Pospisil.
Fognini took a much more circuitous route to the Shanghai quarterfinals, as he edged Andy Murray 7-6(4), 2-6, 7-6(2) in a contentious second-round thriller. The 12th-ranked Italian Opened with a blowout of Sam Querrey and went on to beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-5 during third-round action on Thursday. Fognini could move to within 20 points of the No. 8 spot in London if he beats Medvedev, but that is a tall order given the third seed’s ruthless form right now.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
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