2023 will remain as the year of resurrection for Medvedev. Groggy since his cruel defeat in the final of the Australian Open 2022 after leading by two sets against Rafael Nadal, the Russian had even left the top 10 before recovering perfectly, winning four titles in February and March including the Masters 1000 in Miami. Semi-finalist at Wimbledon, he disappointed in the preparatory American tour at Flushing Meadows when it is normally his garden. Rarely cited by specialists who only swore by a new battle between Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic, the Muscovite recalled, facing the young Spaniard, who had not been world number 1 for nothing.
Ruthless on the serve, remarkable on the return, Medvedev was simply exceptional against the leader of the ATP ranking and he is aware of it. “I said you had to play at a level of 11/10 to hope to beat Carlos, I played at 12/10! It’s the only way to beat Alcaraz. To beat him you have to be better than yourself -even and I managed to do it. He had easily beaten me in our last two confrontations, so before the match I had a lot of doubts”he explained at a press conference.
New York is his home. Where he exploded in front of the world in the final of the 2019 edition against Rafael Nadal. Where he won his only Major two years ago against a Djokovic who was too disturbed by the quest for the calendar Grand Slam. There he will have played 60% of his finals and 57% of his semi-finals in a Major. Where he is at the level of the monsters of the game. Yes, a Daniil Medvedev at the US Open can beat everyone. If Djokovic will naturally be the favorite in this final, thinking that he has won in advance would be a terrible mistake. This year, in two meetings, Medvedev had not managed to take more than three games in sets during the five played against Alcaraz but that did not prevent him from winning in the semi-finals. Medvedev likes big meetings and likes not to be expected. This is perhaps where he is strongest.
I’m playing against a guy who has 23 Grand Slam titles, and me, one… Like against Alcaraz, I’ll have to play better than myself if I want to have a chance. Knowing that I can do it on the big stage brings more confidence.
2023-09-10 05:00:00
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