Shanghai Masters Quarter-Finals Round-up | Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Jodar complete semi-final lineup after brace of three-set thrillers

The semi-final lineup has been set in stone at the Shanghai Masters. Two enthralling three-set contests pitched some of the best players in the world, but ultimately there were only two places up for grabs.

Rafael Jodar began by getting the better of Casper Ruud before Daniil Medvedev continued his brilliant string of results in China to reach consecutive semi-finals in Shanghai against Tommy Paul.

In his debut campaign in Shanghai, Jodar has made a significant leap towards the ATP Finals. It is a second Masters 1000 semi-final for the Spanish sensation who got the better of Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

It was evident that Jodar was a threat on court, regularly hounding the Ruud serve. In total, 15 break points were created. Four came in the first set, and none of them were taken. This was a huge blow with Ruud able to pounce. Right at the end of the set, he stole a march on his opponent and took the lead.

Jodar knew that a response was needed, and that is what occurred. Another two break points were missed in the first game, but he would soon convert a seventh break point in the match to lead. It was soon made redundant with the three-time Grand Slam finalist levelling instantly.

Jodar upped the ante at the end of the second set, winning 12 of the final 15 points with a hold to love seeing it out and confirming a third set.

Ruud was under the cosh, having a barrage of lethal shots being directed at him. Jodar again took a 2-1 lead with a break of serve, but Ruud was not out of it yet. In a repeat of events, he broke straight back. This time round, Jodar was on hand to re-instate himself as the dominant force on court. He backed a third break on the spin with a hold to love and eventually converted a fourth match point against the serve to confirm another unbelievable result.

The victory has provisionally put him in a qualification spot for the ATP Finals. Now up to ninth thanks to this incredible run in China, he has boosted his chances of appearing in Turin no-end.

Another player trying to get to Turin is Medvedev. The 2019 champion in Shanghai is firing on all cylinders in China, and is in a third consecutive last-four on the ATP Tour with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 triumph.

After Paul went 2-1 ahead on serve, Medvedev moved up the gears. He broke to go 3-2 ahead before a game with nine deuces and seven break points were played out. Paul would be kicking himself after missing all those chances, and Medvedev made it three games in a row.

The Russian saw out the set with little fuss, finding more joy against the serve to put his opponent under the cosh. The roles would soon be reversed.

A terrific set of tennis by Paul got him right back in contention. Dropping just one game in 38 minutes, he limited Medvedev to just one hold with a trio of breaks switching the momentum from one end of the court to another. Medvedev did have a chance to break, but the former World No.1 could not capitalise.

A deciding set was confirmed, and Medvedev was the quicker to react. He composed himself after a disappointing second set and immediately seized the initiative with a break. Now with this advantage, he needed to stay firm on serve.

That is what he did. Paul failed to make any inroads against his opponent with just one service points by Medvedev dropped en route to gaining the upper hand 4-2. A break point was saved as Paul stuck around, but another routine hold put Medvedev on the brink. His first match point was rebuffed by Paul, but at the second time of asking he complete the Shanghai Masters semi-final lineup.