"I knew I had to show my best. It was not easy and on top of that, the atmosphere was like in Davis Cup", commented Medvedev after his 7-6 (9/7), 6 victory -4.

"I'm very happy to have won, especially the first set ... on a miracle", he added before telling how, while the 103rd in the world had three set points on his serve at 5-4 , the Russian got away with it.

The joy of Russian Daniil Medvedev, winner of French Hugo Gaston (7-6 (9/7), 6-4), in the quarter-final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, November 5, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

"At 40-0 he's on fire, he almost has the set won. He serves the T, he puts the ball on the line. I thought he had an ace, but I reach out just to try to hit the ball. I touch it, I put it in ... and I win the set. That's tennis! ", narrated the N.2.

For his part, the 21-year-old Toulousain confided that this streak was "the only time (he) could have some regrets about this match".

"Obviously, I have to do better. It pays off against the very best players in the world, the slightest mistake pays cash. That's what happened," he continued.

The French Hugo Gaston, during his defeat (7-6 (9/7), 6-4) against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, in the quarter-final at the Masters 1000 in Paris, on November 5, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Anne- Christine POUJOULAT AFP

In the second round, Gaston, who was in his sixth game of the tournament after the two qualifying rounds and two magnificent victories against 17th world Pablo Carreño then 35th Carlos Alcaraz, fell physically and the defending champion won more easily, despite the noisy support of a packed Bercy hall and all won for the cause of his opponent.

"It will be for me"

"It was a good atmosphere. It was against me and it is normal, I was playing against a Frenchman. Now, I hope that the next match will be for me!", Launched Medvedev to the public by attracting himself an ovation.

There is indeed a chance that the public will be in his favor on Saturday because the French-speaking Russian will face the German Alexander Zverev (4th) who generally has little popular support, or the Norwegian Casper Ruud (8th).

At the top of the table, the semi-final will pit world No.1 Djokovic against the Polish Hubert Hurkacz (10th).

"He plays well, but I play well too," warned the Serbian to the address of his future opponent, after beating the American Taylor Fritz (26th) 6-4, 6-3 in 1:13.

The Serbian Novak Djokovic, during his quarter-final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, against the American Taylor Fritz, on November 5, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

Sure enough, Hurkacz has been playing well lately.

At 24, the striker Roger Federer this summer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, won his first Masters 1000 in April in Miami and reached the quarterfinals at the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells just before coming to Paris.

Hurkacz at the Masters

By qualifying for the semi-finals at Bercy, he won the 8th and last ticket for the end-of-year Masters in Turin (November 14-21) where he will join Djokovic, Medvedev, Tsitsipas, Zverev, Rublev, Berrettini and Ruud.

For this, the Pole dismissed the Australian James Duckworth (55th) 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5 on Friday.

The joy of the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, after his victory at the expense of the Australian James Duckworth (6-2, 6-7 4/7), 7-5) in the quarter-final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, on November 5, 2021 in AccorHotels Arena Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"It was not easy to play it. Of course, in a corner of my head, I had the pressure to have to win today (to qualify for Turin, Editor's note). It was a little bit of pressure But that's also what pushed me to do my best, "he commented.

Djokovic is counting a little on this joy to make his own task easier: "I hope he's happy and he's done with this tournament!" Joked the Serbian who is trying to finish the year N.1 World Cup for the 7th time and thus become the sole record holder, Pete Sampras having done so six times.

"That's the main reason I'm here, agreed Nole. I hope to make sure this week, but otherwise I will have a chance in Turin."

© 2021 AFP