The 26-year-old Russian player did not hide his emotion when he learned a few hours earlier that he was the new world number one, after the defeat of Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Dubai tournament.
"
It's not easy to play a match when you learn that during the day
," said Daniil Medvedev, who nevertheless overcame his Japanese opponent without too much difficulty.
Nadal in half, Tsitsipas easy
For the first time since 2004, the throne of the ATP will thus escape one of the members of the "
Big 4
", namely Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.
Medvedev is the 27th player to
The Spaniard Rafael Nadal also qualified for the semi-finals by beating the American Tommy Paul (6-0, 7-6).
He will meet Medvedev in the semi-finals, in a replay of the Australian Open final won by the Spaniard, ranked fifth in the world.
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas qualified by beating American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4.
He will face in the last four the winner of the last quarter-final match, which opposed in the evening the Briton Cameron Norrie to the German Peter Gojowczyk.
