Daniil Medvedev has felled his second former Brisbane International champion in succession to reach the semi-finals on Friday.
The Russian fourth seed backed up his defeat of two-time winner Andy Murray with a 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 victory over 2016 champion Milos Raonic on Pat Rafter Arena.
It marked the 22-year-old’s second win from as many meetings with the former world No.3, having also prevailed in a quarter-final in Tokyo last season.
“Despite (the) many chances that he had, I managed to hold my serves so I’m happy about it and I’m happy about the win,” he said.
“I don’t really agree it was up and down because I didn’t lose one serve in the match. I took two out of four (break points), which is a good result.”
Arms up! 🙌🏼
No.4 seed Medvedev is just a sliver better than No.5 Raonic, a 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 winner, putting him into the #BrisbaneTennis SFs
He’ll face the Tsonga-De Minaur winner pic.twitter.com/sGBCRQvErD
— #BrisbaneTennis (@BrisbaneTennis) January 4, 2019
Raonic was stronger on serve in the opening set as he sent down 12 of his 29 aces for the match.
But Medvedev responded, taking his first break opportunity for the match in the second game of set No.2.
It proved to be enough to even the ledger as Raonic failed to convert two break points in each of the seventh and ninth games.
At 4-4 in the decider, Medvedev rallied to gain the decisive break when his Canadian opponent hit a cross-court forehand well wide.
Medvedev saved all eight break points while also making better use of his opportunities.
The Russian, who rose to No.16 in the rankings after winning three ATP titles last year, will face top-ranked Australian Alex De Minaur or French former world No.5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the final.
“I like the way I played these two matches against great players. I mean top players, champions of our sport,” Medvedev said.
“To see that what I have been working on in the off-season works here in Brisbane is already is a good sign.”