Daniil Medvedev will seek to avenge recent losses to his 2025 nemesis, Learner Tien, in the fourth round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. In another key matchup, Lorenzo Musetti is set to face a resurgent Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Daniil Medvedev [16] vs. Learner Tien
Learner Tien made a significant breakthrough at the Australian Open to start the season, where the 19-year-old American fought through qualifying to reach the round of 16. During that run, he defeated Daniil Medvedev, and he repeated the feat last week in the Beijing semifinals to establish a surprising 2-0 head-to-head record against the Russian.
Since his Melbourne performance, Tien has had an inconsistent season, struggling on clay with a 1-6 record and drawing Novak Djokovic in the first round of the U.S. Open. However, he has found strong form this autumn, reaching the quarterfinals in Hangzhou, the final in Beijing, and now at least the fourth round in Shanghai. His recent success has propelled him to a career-high ranking of 36th in the world.
Meanwhile, Medvedev has endured a difficult year, suffering first-round losses at every major. The former world No. 1 currently sits at No. 18. Last week in Beijing, a fitness issue forced him to withdraw with severe cramping during his match against Tien. In Shanghai, he has secured straight-set wins over Dalibor Svrcina and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Nevertheless, the hot, humid conditions and slow courts could again make Medvedev vulnerable.
Lorenzo Musetti [8] vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime [12]
Felix Auger-Aliassime enjoyed an impressive return to form at the U.S. Open last month. The world No. 13 played inspired tennis, upsetting top-10 players Alexander Zverev and Alex de Minaur en route to the semifinals. Shanghai marks the Canadian’s first tournament since his deep run in New York.
He will face familiar opponent Lorenzo Musetti, who also had a strong showing at the U.S. Open with a quarterfinal appearance. Unlike Auger-Aliassime, the Italian has played a full schedule since, which could be a factor. Musetti holds a narrow 4-3 lead in their head-to-head series and has won their last two encounters, including a three-set victory at the Miami Masters earlier this season.
However, Musetti was forced to retire from his match in Beijing last week, raising concerns about his fitness. While he has played well in Shanghai, fatigue may become an issue. The slow court conditions could neutralize some of Auger-Aliassime’s power, but the well-rested Canadian may have the edge.
