Shanghai Masters witnesses youngest semi-finals line-up in 12 years

The Shanghai Masters quarter-finals took place on Friday, October 11 at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center, Shanghai. Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini all qualified for the semi-finals scheduled for Friday. History was made, as for the first time in 20 years (Hamburg Open 1999), all the players who have qualified for the semi-finals are under 23 and under. It also the youngest line-up after 12 years for an ATP Masters 1000 event.

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Shanghai Masters has the youngest semi-finals line-up after 12 years

Zverev is 22 years old, while Tsitsipas is 21. Both third seed Medvedev and 11th seed Berrettini are 23. Back in 2007, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick had qualified for the semi-finals in Indian Wells. Nadal was 20 and Roddick was 24. Murray and Djokovic were both 19. During the Hamburg Open 1999, the semi-finalists were Mariano Zabaleta, Carlos Moya, Nicolás Lapentti and Marcelo Rios. Zabaleta was 21, Rios was 23 while Lapentti and Moya were 22.

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This is the first time Federer and Djokovic have ever lost a Shanghai Masters quarter-finals. Federer lost 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-3 to Zverev. Tsitsipas triumphed over the defending champion Djokovic in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 three-setter. After his loss, The Swiss Master talked about the young players. He believes that 'it is exciting' that they have qualified, and all the youngsters are great at what they do. Zverev is one of the only three players who holds a winning record over Federer. The other two are Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

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Zverev will be facing Berrettini, who ousted fourth seed Dominic Thiem 7-6 (8), 6-4 in the last match on Friday. Tsitsipas will play against Medvedev. He defeated Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-6 (4). Tsitsipas and Medvedev's match will begin at 2:00 pm IST. Berrettini and Zverev's game, the second for the day, will start at 5:30 pm IST.

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