Daniil Medvedev brought his hidden clay game to life on Thursday, delivering a crushing 6-2, 6-2 defeat to qualifier Yannick Hanfmann to reach a career-first semi-final at the Rome Masters.
The 2021 US open winner who has never been at home on the dirt, has shown another side to his game by reaching the final four at the Foro Italico.
He broke his German opponent six times and needed 82 minutes to advance with 22 winners.
“I’ve been having good feelings in practice and I’m proving it here,” Medvedev said. “I’m happy with the win and happy to be in the semi-finals.
“Against Hanfmann I wanted to put as many balls into the court as possible. he plays very aggressive.
“I played deep to try and make him miss – and maybe he was not playing his best match.
“He was struggling more than me. I’m glad I was able to neutralise his game.”
Hanfmann, ranked 101 but now set for a rise into the 60s, ran out of puff in the quarter-final after defeating two Top 10 opponents in the week of his tennis life.
Medvedev will play his seventh semi-final of the season after increasing his lead in the match-win season race to 37.
Hanfmann briefly made a late stand, breaking Medvedev before the seed swept up victory in his second match point
Medvedev had never won a match in Rome but has now earned four victories and the loss of just one set here.
Main photo:- Daniil Medvedev winning in Rome today – ATPTour.com
