Shanghai Masters Round-Up: Daniil Medvedev blasts past Alex de Minaur as Arthur Rinderknech's fantasy run continues

Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Rinderknech have confirmed their spots in the Shanghai Masters semi-final, completing the last four line-up in the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the year.

The competition has been played in gruelling temperatures and soaring humidity, making it a very tough experience to compete in. Many have been forced to retire throughout, including the world number two Jannik Sinner. However, the four players who have prevailed against all of this will reap the rewards, with the chance to venture on for the chance of winning the title.

Before today Rinderknech had never made it past the third round of a Masters 1000 event. Today, he has confirmed his place in the semi-final after defeating US Open semi-finalist Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4.

It has been a memorable week for the Frenchman, who had previously beaten world number three Alexander Zverev and Jiri Lehecka. He completed his third top 20 win against the Canadian number one to secure the biggest win of his life.

Before the match, Auger-Aliassime had lost his serve just once, looking very ominous when beginning points. The match kept on serve at first before Rinderknech managed to squeeze in front with a key break, before routinely holding his serve to win the set.

He would once more break, this time right at the start of the second set as he sailed into a 2-0 lead. Auger-Aliassime had a trio of break points to level up affairs but was unable to take any of them. It was all too simple for the 30-year-old from there, as he held his serve to love twice before claiming his second match point to elongate his remarkable run in Shanghai. The ranking points earned from this will see him rise into the top 40 for the first time in his career, currently set to move up 17 places into 37th with there more time to rise even further. Added to that, he could face his cousin Valentin Vacheort in the final. The Monegasque has become the second lowest ranked player to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final in a historic run.

It has been an abject year on the court from the former US Open champion. Winning just one match in Grand Slam events while only making just a single final appearance is not what we expect from the former world number one. However, recent form may have showed that the Russian is closing back to where he should be, with him defeating world number eight Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Masters 1000 semi-final since Indian Wells at the start of the campaign.

At two games all, Medvedev broke to love to sneak ahead and managed to fend off his Australian opponent as he failed to take five break point opportunities throughout the first set. Medvedev would just about hold on, and would wrap up set one with his third set point.

He was on the charge in the second but it was not his turn to miss opportunities as de Minaur saved two break points. As the match went on, there were questions whether Medvedev could still compete, with him looking tired. Despite this, he went on to save de Minaur's sixth break point and instantly broke in the next game to sail into a 5-4 lead, comfortably serving out procedures to clinch an important win.

Medvedev and Rinderknech will face off tomorrow in Shanghai for a place in the final, with wins doing them a lot of good for different reasons. Before that, Vacherot will face off against 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who is looking to win his fifth title in a place he is very fond of.