The Italian Jannik Sinnerworld number one, made a superb statement on Wednesday in the US Openadvancing to the semifinals after beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in a duel between the top favourites to win the crown at this year’s New York event.
Already without Novak Djokovic (world number 2), Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) and Alexander Zverev (4th), the quarterfinal duel between the Italian and the Russian (5th) seemed an early finalIn this context, Sinner was the one who came out best, finishing with a high-class and prestigious victory by 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 and 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes.
The Italian thus became only the fourth active player to reach the semi-finals of all four Grand Slams (the other three being Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Marin Cilic).
The transalpine, who started the tournament amid a huge controversy due to the news of his unsanctioned positive doping test in Indian Wells, will face British Jack Draper in the semi-finals (25th), who defeated Australian Alex de Minaur (10th) 6-3, 7-5 and 6-2 in two hours and seven minutes.
Sinner is the favorite to reach the finalbut Draper won the only previous meeting between the two (Queen’s in 2021) and has not lost a single set in this edition of the US Open.
Sinner – Medvedev, almost an anticipated final
He duel between Sinner and Medvedev at Arthur Ashe Stadium was a re-enactment of the Australian Open final this year, where Jannik won the first and so far only Grand Slam of his career.
But Medvedev did not have to wait long for revenge, as he eliminated Sinner in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
The Muscovite is an old acquaintance of Sinner’s: not counting today, they had already met on twelve occasions with the Russian dominating by 7-5 (now 7-6).
The Sinner-Medvedev duel was a rematch of the Australian Open decider, but also a kind of early finale at the US Open. Photo AP Photo/Adam Hunger
Their face-to-face encounter in 2023 was particularly recurrent and intense, as they met in four finals: in the Rotterdam and Miami tournaments (Medvedev’s victories) and in Beijing and Vienna (Sinner’s victories).
Tonight’s match was not a happy medium. Sinner swept the first set (6-2), Medvedev responded with another onslaught (1-6) and the Italian returned the blow with another blow (6-1).
Only in the fourth set did the balance finally appear, and Sinner was the most successful player, who neutralised two of Medvedev’s break points at 2-3 and then broke his rival’s serve to go 4-3 up with the wind in his favour.
Sinner was unable to finish off his first match point on the return, but with his serve he did not waste the opportunity to seal the match, eliminate the 2021 champion from the Big Apple and qualify for his first semi-final at the US Open.
The imbalance in unforced errors was key with 57 for Medvedev to just 38 for Sinner.
The other finalist of the tournament will come from the match between the Americans and already qualified since Tuesday, Frances Tiafoe (20th) and Taylor Fritz (12th).
Pegula and Muchova meet in the women’s semi-finals
In the women’s draw, American Jessica Pegula recorded an impressive victory on Wednesday against none other than the Polish Iga Swiatek, world number one, by 6-2 and 6-4 in one hour and 28 minutes.
The number 6 in the ranking will face the Czech Karolina Muchova (52nd), who defeated the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (21st) 6-1 and 6-4, for a place in the final.
There is only one precedent between Pegula and Muchova, but it is very recent: in the second round of the WTA 1,000 in Cincinnati less than a month ago, where the American won.
Jessica Pegula eliminated none other than the Polish Iga Swiatek, world number one. Photo EFE/EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO
The other semi-final already has participants since Tuesday: the American Emma Navarro (12th) and the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2nd).
This round of quarterfinals has been perfect and historic for American tennis, which arrived with four representatives and achieved an immaculate record with the four qualified for the semifinals (Tiafoe, Fritz, Pegula and Navarro).
Not since 2003 at the US Open have four players from the country of the stars and stripes made it to the semi-finals of a major.
