Daniil Medvedev comes through battle against Hubert Hurkacz in Toronto

Kevin Palmer
August 14, 2021

Top seed Daniil Medvedev toiled past Hubert Hurkacz to make his way into the semi-finals of the National Bank Open in Toronto.

The Russian was forced to come back from a set down after the seventh seed took the first 6-2 and the remaining two sets both went to tie-breaks as neither was able to find an edge.

The world number two took the second set tie-break on his second set point, breaking for 7-6 and sealing the set on his serve.

A break against Hurkacz for 4-2 in the third set tie-break proved pivotal as Medvedev won the match on his serve to round out a 2-6 7-6 (6) 7-6 (5) victory.

He will go on to face John Isner who defeated Gael Monfils in straight sets.

The American took just 90 minutes to send the 11th seed packing 7-6 (5) 6-4.

Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas swept into the semi-finals with a 6-1 6-4 win over Casper Ruud.

Tsitsipas never looked back after blazing into a 5-0 lead and ultimately closed out victory in 74 minutes to advance to the last four.

The 23-year-old, who is bidding for his third title of the season, committed just four unforced errors in the opening set, but faced a sterner test in the second when he had to hit back from a break down to wrap up victory.

Tsitsipas will next face big-serving American Reilly Opelka who fired 18 aces in a 6-3 7-6 (1) win over 10th seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Opelka survived a match point in the previous round against Lloyd Harris but made sure he would not face another close-call as he won 85% of his first-serve points and ripped through the second set tie-break.