(Miami) Daniil Medvedev, 5th in the world and main competitor of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, enforced logic on Thursday by beating (6-3, 7-5) American Christopher Eubanks (119th) to reach the semi-finals of the Miami Masters 1000.

The 27-year-old Russian, who remains on a lost final in Indian Wells against the Spaniard World No.1, reaches this stage of the Florida event for the first time, after being stopped in the quarters in the two previous editions. He will try to do even better, in the next match, against the Russian Karen Khachanov (16th) or the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (31st).

He was clinical and very realistic in the first round, against an opponent paying for his inexperience, for his first at this stage of a Masters 1000, a category just below the Grand Slams. Evidenced by his two break points converted in as many opportunities, after erasing the five that the American obtained.

However, the two players were almost in balance both in the number of winning shots and unforced errors. Because Eubanks, whose surprising career in Miami will allow him at 26 to enter the top 100 for the first time next Monday, did not seem paralyzed by the issue.

The proof is: he finally managed to steal the Russian’s serve to come back to 4-3, postponing the deadline with superb attacks. But Medvedev then managed to avoid a trap-like tiebreak, breaking again at 6-5 to close the deal on his third match point, in 1:29.