Russia's Daniil Medvedev hits a return to Serbia's Dusan Lajovic during the semi final tennis match of the Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament in Monaco on April 20, 2019. / AFP / VALERY HACHE
MONACO: Unseeded Serb Dusan Lajovic staged a remarkable comeback from 5-1 down to beat 10th-seeded Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-1 in the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals on Saturday.
Lajovic won 10 straight games to open up a 4-0 lead in the second set before Medvedev finally held serve. But after saving one match point, the Russian player tamely hit a return long on his opponent's next opportunity.
The 48th-ranked Lajovic now plays in his first career final against 11-time champion Rafael Nadal or 13th-seeded Fabio Fognini.
It could have been an all-Serb semi but Medvedev knocked out top-ranked Novak Djokovic in Friday's quarterfinals.
Saturday's match started in difficult conditions, with a heavy wind coming in from the Mediterranean blowing clay around the court.
Serving for the set at 5-1, Medvedev dropped his serve and remonstrated with himself.
He had good cause.
The first-set turnaround was complete when Lajovic clinched it on serve, with Medvedev completely mistiming the ball and sending it skyward.
