PARIS, Nov 5: Defending champion Daniil Medvedev rallied to beat unseeded American Sebastian Korda 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 Thursday and book a spot in the Paris Masters quarterfinals.
Korda broke the imposing Russian’s serve in the ninth game of the first set and then clinched it on his third set point. But the U.S. Open champion eased through the second set, forcing Korda into 14 unforced errors.
Medvedev broke for a 3-2 lead in the decider with a whipped forehand pass down the line despite being at full stretch retrieving a shot.
Korda looked stunned as his opponent milked the applause from the crowd in Paris.
Medvedev, who is vying with top-ranked Novak Djokovic to finish the year as No. 1, served for the match but Korda broke him to trail 5-3. He broke Korda straight back, sealing the victory on his first match point after Korda’s 40th unforced error of the match.
Medvedev next faces French qualifier Hugo Gaston, who rallied from 5-0 down in the second set to win 6-4, 7-5 against 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
The home crowd cheered Alcaraz when ever he missed first serves or on double faults, and continued to do so despite the umpire repeatedly asking for calm. (AP)
