The duel between Russian compatriots and also compadres in real life, was settled in favor of Daniel Medvedevwho with his victory, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 against Andrei Rublev maintains the perfect record in the quarterfinals of the US Open and reaches the semifinals in Flushing Meadows for the fourth time.
Once again, the high temperatures put the contenders to the test in an Arthur Ashe stadium that had become a hotbed due to the suffocating humidity.
“It was brutal. The only good thing I see in these conditions is that both suffer. It was difficult for both of us. There were some ups and downs, but that’s very normal. At the end of the first set I could no longer see the ball. I played with sensations”, said Medvedev at the end of the game.
In the third set Medvedev said that the playing conditions at Ashe Stadium were some of the toughest he had encountered in his career.
“A player is going to die and then you will see it,” Medvedev said directly to the camera, referring to the hot conditions on the track. Although the organizers cannot control the weather, there was an option to close the roof and turn on the air conditioning, as in rainy conditions.
Both players placed a cold-air fan on their faces during the substitutions and also placed ice packs around their necks to try to recover.
It was the eighth match played as professionals between Medvedev and Rublev, apart from the matches they played as youth players.
I know he never gives up. But he knows I never do it either,” Medvedev said.
On Wednesday, Medvedev broke Rublev’s serve nine times, raising his win-win percentage back to 49%. He leads all men in that category at this year’s US Open and ranks well above the tournament average of 22%.
27-year-old Medvedev will face Carlos Alcaraz either Alexander Zverev for a place in the final.
If Alcaraz advances, it will be the first time since 2018 that three former winners have reached the semifinals. The three-time champion, the Serbian Novak Djokovic takes on the surprising rookie, Ben Sheltonin the quarterfinals.
Medvedev is chasing his second Grand Slam title after triumphing at Flushing Meadows in 2021. He also qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals following his fourth-round win against alex deminaur.
Medvedev has earned a tour-leading 37 on-court wins this season, lifting four trophies on the surface.
