Daniil Medvedev shocks Carlos Alcaraz to set up US Open final rematch against Novak Djokovic
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Published 09/09/2023 at 07:26 GMT
Russian world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev delivered a sensational, and timely, reminder of his qualities with a three-sets-to-one victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open semi-final on Friday evening. Medvedev, the unfavoured option for bookmakers and the boisterous New York crowd alike, prevailed in a three-hour-and-22-minute battle, 7-6(7) 6-1 3-6 6-3, setting up a rematch against Novak Djokovic.
Highlights: Djokovic to face Medvedev in US Open final as Alcaraz shocked
Daniil Medvedev stormed into the US Open Final on Friday evening with a dominant victory over world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 7-6(7) 6-1 3-6 6-3.
As a result of his swashbuckling win, the Russian will face world No. 2 Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final, a rematch of the 2021 final which Medvedev won in straight sets.
After his quarter-final victory over countryman Andrey Rublev, Medvedev told the media that he would need to produce a truly special performance to reach the final.
He said: "It needs to be 11 out of 10 because that's how Carlos is, very strong. Even here, I think he lost one set but I watched some matches, sometimes on break points, he runs for the passing shots. Incredible stuff.”
The opening set against Alcaraz proved Medvedev's bona fides as both a prognosticator and one of tennis' elite players. The 57-minute set was tennis of the highest quality.
Neither player managed to break the other's serve, although Medvedev dropped two break points in the fourth game, and in the final eight games of the set only eight points were won against serve.
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Highlights: Alcaraz and fiery Medvedev through to third round at US Open
It seemed destined for a tie-breaker, and that was how things eventuated. In the tie-breaker, the Russian picked up three points from Alcaraz's serve to one lost. That proved the difference and Medvedev took the first set 7-6(7).
Alcaraz has an occasional habit of retreating when under pressure and this trait was on show in the second set as Medvedev rolled right over him. The Russian won his first three service games to love and twice broke Alcaraz as he took a 5-1 lead.
The Spaniard showed a little more resistance in the final game of the set, but not enough to stop Medvedev taking it 6-1 in just 38 minutes.
Alcaraz rallied in the third, opening the set with a vintage booming service game. He broke Medvedev's serve for the first time in the match in the fourth game and, with his own serve back in top condition, that slim advantage was enough for him to see out the set, 6-3.
The fourth set was a real tussle again.
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Carlos Alcaraz
Image credit: Getty Images
Alcaraz had three break points in the third game, but couldn't convert and let a golden opportunity slip away.
In the sixth game, with both players having held all their service games so far, Medvedev got the final word in a 19-point epic, breaking Alcaraz to go 4-2 up.
The Russian held to love to move within sight of victory and served out the match two games later.
Alcaraz fought on to the last point, three times denying Medvedev on match point before finally succumbing. The fourth set had been a real battle, lasting exactly an hour on the court, and Medvedev prevailed to move into Sunday's final.
Afterwards, Medvedev basked in his achievement of defeating the world No. 1.
He said: "I said I needed to play 11 out of 10. I played 12 out of 10, except the third set. That's the only way. I don't know if he's still 20 or 21, but [he is] so young, already two Grand Slams, world No. 1 for many weeks.
"It's honestly just pretty unbelievable and I think nobody has done it before him. To beat him, you need to be better than yourself and I managed to do it."
Medvedev continued: "The third set was not so bad, I lost one serve. I didn't have a lot of opportunities on his serve, but I felt like I was not that far. So I was like, 'I have to continue pushing. I have to do a little bit better on my serve'.
"I saved some break points at 1-all. There was a very crucial, super-long game where I managed to do some amazing points to stay in the game and then he kind of — maybe we don't see him do this often — he started to miss a little bit. Yeah, amazing."
Sunday's final will be a rematch of the 2021 decider between Djokovic and Medvedev, won by the Russian 6-4 6-4 6-4.
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