Rinderknech came back from a set down to win a remarkable match against Medvedev | Image Credit: IMAGO / Xinhua
France’s Arthur Rinderknech was the star of the evening as he came back from one set down to defeat the more-fancied Daniil Medvedev in a cracker of a semi-final game at the Shanghai Masters ATP 1000 event.
Having lost the first set, he showed immense character in staging a comeback to eventually claim the match 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Interestingly, Rinderknech will be facing his cousin Valentin Vacherot on Sunday evening in the final. The latter defeated Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic in the other semi-final earlier in the day. Vacherot, who was also watching the game from the stands, shared an emotional moment with Rinderknech after the match.
Speaking after the game, Rinderknech was amazed about the fact that he would face Vacherot in the final and how it was a dream come true for the duo.
“I don’t know, even in the best dreams I couldn’t have imagined this. So, I can’t even say this is a dream. We started believing in the quarters may be (facing each other is possible). Anything could have happened but now we are here. We fought through so many matches and somehow we are the guys who are standing at the end. Just incredible,” said Rinderknech, after the match.
Daniil Medvedev broke early in the first set, giving little time for Rinderknech to make it even from there on. Medvedev sailed smoothly and claimed the set with an ace.
The second set started on a contrasting note. Rinderknech’s drop shot in a break point in the second game was received with a lazy return from his opponent and went straight into the net, giving the former a 2-0 lead.
Medvedev had a golden opportunity to break back in the third game, but failed to capitalise to find himself trailing 0-3.
Rinderknech did more than well to hold on to his serves, maintaining the advantage gained all along the way, aided with his drop shots which often did the trick for him. His powerful forehand down the line was too hot to handle for Medvedev as the second set ended 6-2.
Each of the two showed consistency in their own serves in the beginning of the third set. Nervy moments arose in the seventh game for Rinderknech, where he had to defend two break points. However, he came out with flying colours – producing an ace and two long serves to bail out of the position.
Leading 5-4, Rinderknech played out some scintillating shots to have two match points. The first one was put out by Medvedev with a rocket-like ace, but the former US Open champion eventually made a double fault to gift the unseeded Rinderknech a shot at the title.
Rinderknech will face his cousin Valentin Vacherot in the final of the 2025 Shanghai Masters |Image Credit: IMAGO / PRESSE SPORTS
Rinderknech felt that humid conditions made it difficult for him to win points against Medvedev in the first set, after which he decided to give all his energy in the second and third.
“I lost the first set. It was really humid again tonight. I played the last two matches in the day. Even it was a bit hotter, it was drier. But, tonight was really humid, the ball was really slow and I couldn’t finish a point with Daniil in the first set.
"And I was like, maybe I am going to lose, but I am going to fight like crazy and make him tired for tomorrow and at least try and help Val (Vacherot) to start the match a bit ahead, physically at least. Then, somehow I got the break and another one and then the set, and I was like ‘you know what, I am going to try'. I tried everything and gave my best and somehow it worked and I don’t even know how," Rinderknech signed off.
