SHANGHAI, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- US Open finalist Daniil Medvedev had a tough challenge from 248th-ranked Vasek Pospisil on Thursday to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinal.
The Russian saved three set points in the opener and two more in the tiebreak as he struggled to outperform the tournament qualifier with 7-6 (7), 7-5.
The fourth-ranked Medvedv will play 10th-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini in the last eight.
Pospisil lost his bid to become the third qualifier ever to make the Shanghai quarterfinals.
Medvedev's frustration got the better of him when Pospisil led 4-2, 40-30 in the first set, with the player smashing his racket repeatedly onto the ground at the baseline.
"I usually don't like to do it, to break the rackets, because it's never beautiful," Medvedev said. "But it's true that sometimes it maybe can help to get some emotions out and get also the stress out."
Medvedev reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open in September and leads the ATP tour this year with 56 victories.
Medvedev will meet No. 10 Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals.
