Match Report
Medvedev restores order to US Open evening session
Former World No. 1 denies Cobolli’s quest to impact third consecutive upset inside Arthur Ashe Stadium
September 01, 2024
ANGELA WEISS/Getty Photographs
Daniil Medvedev performs a backhand return towards Italy’s Flavio Cobolli throughout their third spherical match on the US Open.
By ATP Employees
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev restored order to the US Open night session Saturday after the chaotic exits of former champions Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz the earlier two nights.
The 28-year-old, who’s now the one former champion remaining within the males’s discipline, denied a feisty problem from younger Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours, 18 minutes to set a fourth-round showdown with Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
“I mentioned it earlier than the match that for me the upsets don’t actually matter. The one factor [is when] the circumstances are a bit difficult the favourites possibly have much less margin than the opposite guys. Simply must be extra cautious,” mentioned Medvedev, who improved to 38-13 on the season [21-6 on hard courts].
“If I play good tennis I can win the entire thing. If I don’t play good I can lose towards anybody.”
The gamers captivated followers inside Arthur Ashe Stadium with a sequence of spellbinding rallies, with Cobolli often forcing Medvedev to defend like an octopus along with his gangly arms at full stretch and his trademark defensive expertise examined to the restrict.
Medvedev’s crisp deep-court returning saved Cobolli below strain on serve all through the match. The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion cultivated 20 break level probabilities, changing seven. Whereas he dropped serve thrice himself, Medvedev received a wholesome 81 per cent of first serves and clipped 33 winners, together with 9 aces.
“It was a tricky match. It was just a bit bit up and down,” Medvedev mentioned. “And at one second I began enjoying significantly better on my serve than on his.
“It was a difficult match. Very very humid, very popular on the market. I believe it makes the circumstances a bit slower as a result of I used to be watching different matches earlier than mine… it was a enjoyable match to play. Crowd was fairly full, I really feel, for such a late time. And I used to be having fun with myself.”
The previous No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings stays on observe for a blockbuster quarter-final showdown with present No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who performs American Tommy Paul within the final 16.
Flavio Cobolli on X Video games mode right here within the third set 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4DnzxVSzB0
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2024
Ought to he win the title, Medvedev may climb to as excessive as No. 2 within the PIF ATP Rankings and to second place within the PIF ATP Race to Turin, as he seeks to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin from 10-17 November.
Medvedev has loved a powerful Grand Slam run in 2024, reaching the Australian Open closing and the Wimbledon semi-finals, however he’s nonetheless looking for his first title since profitable the ATP Masters 1000 title in Rome in Could final yr.
The 2021 champion and two-time finalist has now reached the second week at Flushing Meadows six straight years.