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Daniil Medvedev overcame a wobble to beat a fighting Tommy Paul on Friday and reach the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, setting up a showdown with rising star Rafael Jodar.<\/strong><\/p>\n At age 20, the Spaniard is the youngest player to reach the Shanghai semi-finals since the tournament\u2019s inaugural edition in 2009.<\/p>\n Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion, overcame inconsistent serving to beat Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old saved seven break points to hold back the American in a marathon sixth game, giving little away as he broke to take the first set when Paul fired long.<\/p>\n But the 18th-ranked Paul returned inspired in the second set, displaying fantastic defence as Medvedev drove him around the court.<\/p>\n He was rewarded when Medvedev double-faulted twice in a must-win game to tumble into a decider.<\/p>\n The Russian, ranked sixth, cruised to a 2-0 lead in the third set and carried that momentum to the end, breaking again to win on his second match point.<\/p>\n Earlier, 13th-ranked Jodar beat Norway\u2019s Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 \u2014 recovering from a set down for the fourth time in a row this week.<\/p>\n Both players were tested but held serve to start with until Ruud capitalised on a break point, taking the first set with a searing forehand into the corner.<\/p>\n But Jodar\u2019s brilliance shone through, dazzling the crowd with a gorgeous over-the-shoulder smash in the fourth game of the second set.<\/p>\n Despite losing that game, the Spaniard held his nerve and won a crucial break point to go up 5-4 before closing out the set at the first time of asking.<\/p>\n Ruud, ranked 24th, saved three match points in the third set but double-faulted to hand Jodar victory.<\/p>\n \u201cCasper is a very tough player,\u201d Jodar said afterwards. \u201cI had to give my best level today to win this match.\u201d<\/p>\n Top seed Alexander Zverev faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the other semi-final on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n