Australia’s Alex de Minaur has scored the biggest win of his career, defeating Daniil Medvedev at the Paris Masters.
It’s the first time de Minaur has beaten a top five-ranked player, overcoming a second set stumble to triumph 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 46 minutes.
It was an up and down final set, with the Australian coming back from 0-2 and was unable to convert two match points on the Russian’s serve.
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But he wouldn’t be denied at 6-5, with Medvedev double faulting on de Minaur’s fourth match point at 30/40, handing the 23-year-old victory.
A frustrated Medvedev smashed his racquet after losing the match before walking up to shake hands with the Aussie.
De Minaur had lost all 18 of his previous matches against top five players and had lost all four of his prior encounters against Medvedev.
The Russian former world No.1 will drop out of the top four for the first time in nearly two years. Medvedev held the top ranking until after the US Open in September. He will be ranked No.5 at best on Monday.
Staying in the top four is significant for the seedings for grand slams. Players in the top four avoid the other top four players until the semi finals.
Players that fall between 5-8 in the rankings, are drawn to play a top four player in the quarter-finals.
De Minaur will play American Frances Tiafoe in the last 16 in Paris.
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