Medvedev advances to fight Dimitrov in US Open semis

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev fought a leg injury to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open by defeating three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

Fifth seed Medvedev’s 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 3-6 6-1 win on Tuesday (September 3) advanced him into a semi-final against Bulgaria’s 78th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov who defeated the owner of a record 20 Grand Slam titles Roger Federer on Wednesday (September 4).

“I feel really strange about this match but I’m really happy to be in my first semi-final,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev struggled with a sore left quadriceps muscle that made him consider quitting the match in the first set. “Before the match, I was feeling perfect. In the first set I think I pulled my quadriceps,” Medvedev said.

“I had a really big pain in my quadriceps and thought I wasn’t going to continue the match.” Medvedev took a medical timeout and had the area taped and took a painkiller.

“In the fourth set, I started feeling the painkiller and started moving better,” he said. “For sure I hope to be ready for the semis.”

Medvedev, at 23, becomes the youngest US Open semi-finalist since Novak Djokovic in 2010 and Russia’s first Slam semi-finalist since Mikhail Youzhny at the 2010 US Open.

Also read: Wawrinka advances as Djokovic quits, Federer rolls at US Open

Swiss third seed Federer, who has a record 45 Slam semi-final visits, hopes to become the oldest Slam semi-finalist since Jimmy Connors at age 39 at the 1991 US Open.

Wawrinka, foiled in a bid for his second US Open title in four seasons, said he did not think Medvedev would be holding the trophy on Sunday (September 8).

“He can, but I don’t think he will. I think it’s going to be really difficult,” Wawrinka said.

“Because he looks to start to be tired, and he has to beat some tougher player in the semi-final, Roger or Grigor, and then in the final.

“But again, he’s showing last few weeks that anything can happen with him, so for sure he’s going to have a shot. He just needs two more matches.”

Medvedev has maintained momentum from a sizzling August in which he reached three ATP finals, winning a title at Cincinnati and finishing runner-up in Montreal and Washington.

Boos greeted Medvedev as he walked onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the frosty reception stemming from his obscene gesture in a third-round match and subsequent taunts about how the jeers provide him the inspiration to win, although he later called himself “an idiot” and needed to conduct himself better on the court.

Also read: Dimitrov stuns Federer to reach US Open semi against Medvedev

After the match he used the words “electric” for the atmosphere and “controversy” to describe his odd relationship with US Open fans, who gave him mixed applause and boos.

“What I have done is not so good, still people support me… What can I say. I like to be myself, guys.

“I have to say, sorry guys, and thank you.”

Medvedev broke Wawrinka to open the match but, after the medical timeout, he was broken in the 10th game to set up the tie-break. Medvedev led 5-2, lost the next four points, then took the last three, claiming the first set on a service winner.

The Russian rode a break in the fourth game to capture the second set but two double faults helped Wawrinka break in the second game of the third set and the Swiss fought off four break points in the ninth game to hold and force a fourth set.

Medvedev broke at love for a 2-0 lead and cruised from there to victory in two hours 34 minutes.

“I never really found the right rhythm,” Wawrinka said.

“I wasn’t at my best today. I wasn’t moving great. I didn’t mix enough my game, and at the end, it was a struggle.”

Other quarter-finals on Wednesday (September 4) send Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, against Argentine 20th seed Diego Schwartzman and French 13th seed Gael Monfils against Italian 24th seed Matteo Berrettini.

(With inputs from PTI)