Daniil  Medvedev loses cool but lifts Russia to ATP Cup semis

SYDNEY: Daniil Medvedev was docked a point for twice banging the umpire's chair with his racket in a heated second set before he recovered to secure Russia's semifinal spot at the ATP Cup with a win over Argentine opponent Diego Schwartzman. The fourth-ranked Medvedev blamed the meltdown on jet lag from Russia's cross-continental journey from Perth to Sydney -- including an overnight stop in Melbourne -- between the group stage and the quarterfinals. He said he expected to get a fine for the code violation but otherwise was satisfied to win the "super tough match" 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Thursday to secure Russia's win over Argentina before the doubles. Karen Khachanov had given Russia the lead when he beat Guido Pella 6-2, 7-6 (4).

"I didn't have anything near me to hit at than the chair ... so just hit one thing with the racket," he said. "I got a code violation, which I deserve -- the second one is no question. Then we moved on."

There were some other positives, Medvedev said, listing the fact that the he didn't damage the chair, injure anybody or break his racket when he hit Mohamed Lahyani's chair in a heated exchange after dropped serve in the seventh game of the second set.

The Russians spent the afternoon watching the broadcast of Australia's 2-1 win over Britain in the first of the quarterfinal matches, when Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios combined to edge Jamie Murray and Joe Salisbury 3-6, 6-3, 18-16 on their fifth match point. Agencies

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