Daniil Medvedev is into the Final Four of Major for the First Time After Beating Former Champion Stan Wawrinka at US Open
(September 3, 2019) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – No. 5 Daniil Medvedev has made the final four of a major for the first time, beating former US Open champion Stan Wawrinka 7-6(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Two words that the Russian told the crowd after the match were “sorry guys and thank you.” Medvedev was involved in an incident where fans started to boo him for what they perceived as mistreatment of a ball person and giving a middle finger to the crowd on the side of his head during a changeover in his third-round match on Friday night.
With the win, Medvedev, 23, is the youngest US Open semifinalist since Novak Djokovic in 2010. He’s looking for his 50th win on the year in his next match, which leads the ATP Tour.
He’s also moved up in the ranking to a career-high No. 4 and has qualified for the year-end finals in London.
Medvedev was the hottest player on the ATP Tour this summer, going 19-2, winning the Western & Southern Open and a finalist in Montreal and Washington.
“I think in general he’s playing really well,” said Wawrinka. “He’s really solid. He has a tough game to play.
“I didn’t start well. I never really find the right rhythm. I wanted to find between staying back and being offensive. Didn’t serve so well.
“He was playing well. He was there when he need it, and he was the better player today.”
“I saw him play the last few matches and been saying he has pain, and for sure he has pain. Some players like to show everybody they have pain. Some others hide it.
“I’m pretty sure all the players, 95%, we all have pain. We deal with it the way he’s doing it, and he’s doing well because he’s playing well. So that’s why I’m saying when I saw he was taking time out, for me was not a problem. I knew he will fight anyway and that he’s a tough player to beat. Today he was better player than me.”
Medvedev is surprised at his success this year, especially over the summer.
“That’s what I’ve been working for all my life, especially the last two and a half years. That’s where I’ve been going step by step. I was improving my rankings. But I am still really surprised with the way this last four weeks have been going.
“I mean, so many circumstances. Usually when you make a final like I did in Washington, come to Montreal, you’re a little bit tired. You’re like saying to yourself, Okay, I’ve done already a final, maybe this tournament is not that important, I’m a little bit tired.
“Then I’ve done final of a Masters, which was the best result in my life so far. Coming to Cincinnati, same. We came on a charter jet that tournament has provided to us. I think I was in the hotel like at 3:30 in the morning.
“I had to play. I had one day to relax, then I had to play Kyle Edmund. Again I was like, Okay, now I’ve done the best result of my life, maybe I should take this tournament easy. Then I won it.
“Yeah, a lot of controversies, really surprised. That’s what I’ve been working for. That’s what I’ve dreamed of. I’ve achieved some of what I’ve dreamt.
“Talking about my game, I think it’s the tactics a lot, and consistency, yeah. It’s tough to say. I have a lot of strengths.
He’ll play Grigor Dimitrov for a spot in the final,
“First of all, I always say when I play before my opponents that I will enjoy the match,” said the Russian. “I’m going to watch. They’re playing late. I’m going to be in my hotel room watching the whole match, unless they finish at 2 in the morning, then I’m going to be sleeping.
“I mean, both amazing players. Roger is probably greatest of all time, I should say. I played him two times, I think.”
“Three times right now,” he corrected himself.” Didn’t get the win. Playing against him is something special. Of course, to get one more opportunity to get the win in such big event, in such later stage, will be amazing.
“At the same time really happy for Grigor, that he’s coming back to his shape maybe. I think he’s 78 in the rankings right now before this week, so he’s definitely going to go up. I saw some matches of him here. He was playing unbelievable.”
A big milestone for Medvedev ?@DaniilMedwed defeats Wawrinka in 4 sets and reaches the semifinals in Flushing Meadows!#USOpen pic.twitter.com/alo3U8HZDI
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2019
