Medvedev doubles up with 2nd defeat of Shang

Daniil Medvedev picked up where he left off a week ago with a second straight defeat of China’s Shang Juncheng to set up a showdown at the ATP Dubai event with Stan Wawrinka.

Medvedev, who turned 30 this month, defeated a limping opponent 6-1, 6-3 seven days after sending Shang out in Doha in straight sets.

The third seed booked a Wednesday appointment with three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka, a fellow former champion at the Aviation club who is playing his final season at age 40.

Medvedev won the title in Brisbane last month prior to the Australian Open, where the former No. 1 now ranked 11th reached the fourth round.

He won the Dubai title in 2023 while Wawrinka was champion a decade ago.

Medvedv had the edge over the 262nd-ranked Shang, who suffered with a foot injury in 2025.

That problem came back to haunt him in the closing stages of the 66-minute loss to Medvedev, with the Chinese outsider noticeably limping on his dodgy right foot.

“I needed to play the same tactics and level that I had last week” the winner said. “We both knew what we had to do – it just depends on who is playing better.”

Medvedev, who lost a quarter-final here a year ago after holding four match points, added:

“The first set was great, I was serving well in the big moments and breaking him.

“The second was 50-50 and I could tell he was injured a bit. I’m happy I was able to win. I noticed he was suffering a bit in the long rallies (due to heat).”

Medvedev beat Wawrinka a year ago in Rotterdam, their last meeting; the pair of veterans have also faced off at three of the four Grand Slams dating to Wimbledon, 2017.