Medvedev, Tsitsipas on semi-final collision course in Dubai

Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas both picked up wins at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday and remain on track to meet in the semi-finals of the ATP 500 tournament.

Top seed Medvedev took on the big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and prevailed in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 22 minutes.

Tennis betting sites had the Russian as a -250 favourite heading into the match, but recent poor form made the scoreline surprising.

Medvedev was brilliant behind his own serve and did an excellent job of drawing the Frenchman into baseline exchanges.

“It’s tactically easy, in a way, because you have to be strong on your own serve,” Medvedev said afterwards. 

“I was very good on my serve, that helped. 

“Then you can put pressure on his serve, try to guess or see something. 

“I’m generally happy with my level.”

Elsewhere in the top half of the Dubai draw, Tsitsipas overcame Medvedev’s compatriot Karen Khachanov.

The pair battled for close to two-and-a-half hours, with the No.4 seed prevailing 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-4 for his 350th ATP Tour win.

A finalist at this event in 2019 and 2020, Tsitsipas faces a stiff challenge next in Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

The former world No.6 overcame Australia’s Christopher O’Connell 7-6(2), 6-2, and online bookmakers now have him listed at +400 to win the tournament.

This puts him on the third line of betting at Nags.bet, behind Medvedev (+200) and Felix Auger-Aliassime (+275) but ahead of Tsitsipas (+800).

Berrettini is also given the edge by Nags.bet heading into his clash with Tsitsipas on Thursday, paying -175.44 to beat the Greek despite trailing 5-1 in the pair’s head-to-head record.

Medvedev, on the other hand, is a heavy favourite to get past his quarter-final opponent, Tallon Griekspoor, with tennis betting apps pricing him at -357.14 to win.