Shanghai Masters 2026: Medvedev beats Struff in first match since China Open disqualification

Daniil Medvedev (in pic) beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round of the Shanghai Masters, extending his head-to-head advantage over the German to 10-2. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Daniil Medvedev progressed to the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday with a comeback win against Jan-Lennard Struff in the Russian’s first match since being disqualified from China Open semifinals for hitting a spectator in the eye with a ball he had sent into the stands.

Fifth-seeded Medvedev took an hour and 52 minutes to beat World No. 59 Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 and extend his head-to-head advantage over the German to 10-2.

He sent down 21 aces to advance.

“When I broke him I felt like I could win it,” the 30-year-old Medvedev said of a dominant third set in which he despatched a masterful backhand volley during the sixth game that helped him go up 4-2.

The court was “different from Beijing”, he told an on-court interviewer, adding “it was a bit tough to get used to”.

Former World No. 1 Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open semifinals when Novak Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3. As the 30-year-old Medvedev lost the opening point, he hit a ball which hit a fan in the eye in the front row. The Russian, who lost the USD 285,000 prize money he would have received for making the semifinals in Beijing, later apologised to the spectator.

15th Shanghai W 📈 2019 champ Medvedev holds on to survive Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3! @DaniilMedwed #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/hf9r2iqaMz

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 10, 2026

Medvedev will face either Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina or 28th-seeded Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the next round.

Medvedev is currently eighth in the live race for the ATP Finals and is aiming to qualify for the year-end event for the seventh time, having missed the cut last year.