Arthur Rinderknech joins cousin in Shanghai semifinals

Unseeded Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech advanced to the Rolex Shanghai Masters semifinals Friday with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 win against No. 12 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.

It was the third top-20 win for Rinderknech en route to his first appearance in a Masters 1000 final foursome. Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 13, fell in just 87 minutes to join No. 3 Alexander Zverev and No. 19 Jiri Lehecka on his list of victims.

After his quarterfinal victory, Rinderknech raised his arms and looked toward his cousin Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, an even more unlikely Shanghai semifinalist.

"It is huge. First of all, I followed my cousin," Rinderknech said. "He was going through the emotions on Thursday and I am trying to follow and battle and do the same as him. It has been incredible since the start of the tournament.

"The whole family is following from home. We are in our own little world here. It has been incredible and today was a good performance from myself and I am happy it was straight sets, so I am not too tired for tomorrow."

The cousins both played collegiate tennis at Texas A&M.

Rinderknech is the Frenchman to reach the semifinals in this event, joining Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2013, 2015) and Gilles Simon (2014, 2016). He saved all three break points and converted both break opportunities against Auger-Aliassime, who had lost his serve just once all tournament.

Up next for Rinderknech as he seeks his maiden title is No. 16 seed Daniil Medvedev, a 6-4, 6-4 winner Friday against No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia.

In the other semifinal, qualifier Vacherot will take on five-time Shanghai champion and No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

Medvedev needed one hour and 53 minutes to finish off de Minaur in a match that featured more than 30 points that lasted more than nine shots.

"I was super tired and I knew against Alex ... we would have long points. I think in the third or fourth game we had a couple and I thought it was going to be a long day, but I am happy with the way I played," Medvedev said. "I was really clutch in the important moments and hitting the ball great and putting him under pressure. The second set was tight but I found the best at the end. I am really happy with the level."

Medvedev won 15 of 16 points on his first serve in the second set and finished the match with a 27-16 edge in winners.

--Field Level Media