Daniil Medvedev remains on course for his Masters 1000 breakthrough - but in Alex Zverev he faces a formidable opponent in Sunday's Shanghai Masters final.
Medvedev has been in fantastically consistent form since Wimbledon and edged past Stefanos Tsitsipas, winning 7-6 7-5 against an opponent who had seen off Novak Djokovic a day earlier.
It will be the Russian's third Masters 1000 final of the year following defeats to Rafael Nadal in Canada and David Goffin in Cincinnati, but having not yet dropped a set in Shanghai he has every reason to hope the frustrating run will end.
Indeed there is no hotter player in the sport right now than the US Open runner-up. This will be his sixth straight tour-level final, and it's a sequence he hopes to extend beyond Sunday.
"Making six (finals) in a row, including three Masters 1000’s and one grand slam, is something I could never dream of, to be honest,” said Medvedev.
"But I want to keep the momentum going and hope I can make it to seven or eight."
Zverev, of course, will have other ideas, and he was given less of a workout in a 6-3 6-4 victory over Matteo Berrettini.
The 22-year-old lost just two points on his own serve in the first set and wrapped up the win in just 67 minutes, without facing a single break point as he hit 11 aces and was always on top.
Zverev won the ATP Finals last year but 2019 has been less of a success - unlike Medvedev, this will be his first Masters 1000 final of the campaign.
That said, with wins in Italy, Canada and Madrid already to his name at this level, the younger finalist holds an experience edge - which is perhaps why he's been backed into 11/8 with Sky Bet.
Medvedev is favourite, despite the fact that all four previous meetings have gone to Zverev, although this will be their first encounter of the season.
"It feels great, obviously," said Zverev, who has boosted his hopes of being able to defend his title in London later this year.
"I felt like I've played some decent tennis this week and being in a Masters 1000 final here in Shanghai is also something very special for me.
"I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can play some good tennis tomorrow."
