Jodar 2-0 Medvedev in Shanghai: 39-18 in first-serve points tells the story

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Ten. That is all Daniil Medvedev won on serve in the opening set of the Shanghai semifinal — 32 service points for Rafael Jodar against 10, and a 42-35 lead in total points that felt wider than three games. The 6-3 6-4 scoreline reads comfortable; the first set read like a takeover.

Jodar set the terms with his first delivery. He hit 4 aces in the opening set, saved 4 of the 5 break points he faced and converted both chances he created, while Medvedev saved 0 of 2. The lone break back could not dent the pattern: 71% of Jodar's first serves landed across the match against 56% for Medvedev, and the set closed 6-3.

The second set tightened. Service points went 18-17 and aces 2-2, but Medvedev's delivery frayed — 4 double faults after none in the first set, when Jodar had been the one to err twice. Three breaks landed: Medvedev converted his single chance, Jodar struck twice, and the 6-4 stood on a 31-26 points edge. Across the match Jodar converted 4 break points to Medvedev's 2.

Jodar's edge lived on the first ball. He put 60 of 84 first serves in play and won 39 of those points, finishing 73-61 ahead in total points with 12 games to 7. Medvedev actually won more return points, 34 to 23, but claimed only 27 of his 50 service points — he served 50 in all to Jodar's 84. You cannot break what you cannot keep: Jodar saved 4 of 6 break points, Medvedev 3 of 7.

Medvedev arrived with the bigger reputation; Jodar leaves with the bigger numbers — 6 aces to 3, 4 breaks to 2, and a semifinal taken without dropping a set.