At least, for once, everyone got a good night’s sleep. Who would have predicted it? Who would have expected that, at midnight, the crowd inside the Arthur Ashe would head for the subway?
Who would have thought that this quarter-final match between Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev would be anything but a gruelling battle until the early hours of the morning?
After all, this was the third Grand Slam meeting between the two this year. They had played at the highest level at Wimbledon and Australia. Together, those matches lasted almost eight hours.
That all seemed like a flash in comparison, and in the end, Sinner remains on track for his first US Open win.
After just two and a half hours, the 23-year-old had beaten the No. 5 seed 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. And the scoreline doesn’t lie: there were plenty of changes of pace, but not many periods of competitive tennis. It was all a bit strange.
World number one Jannik Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev to reach his first US Open semi-final
The Russian number 5, who won here in 2021, was defeated 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe.
But what matters for Sinner? He is in his first US Open semi-final and has surely overcome his biggest obstacle.
Britain’s Jack Draper has been imperious in this tournament and now stands between Sinner and a place in the final against either Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz.
More importantly, however, Medvedev was the only US Open winner left in the draw. He was the only Grand Slam champion other than Sinner, and the Russian also has a history of beating the world number one at this level.
But not this year. The 2021 winner was untouchable in the second set, but beyond that, he was second best.
One of the unique things about Medvedev’s career is that since 2018, he has won more matches (268) and reached more finals (32) on hard courts than any other player. All but two of the Russian’s 20 singles titles have come on the surface.
But the 20 titles have come in different venues: he has never won a tournament more than once. And, like Sinner, Medvedev was looking to break new ground in New York. At first, though, he struggled to serve.
Sinner will now face Britain’s Jack Draper for a place in the final after this four-set victory.
Medvedev appeared to have turned the tide before Sinner regained control during the third set.
The Russian gave Sinner an early lead after a pair of double faults. He rescued that opening game, but lost his serve in the next round after another double. Soon, Sinner caught the virus.
After the Italian missed his second serve, Medvedev had two chances to get back on serve, but the Russian failed to capitalise on either. He was then made to pay the price as Sinner extended his lead and took the first set 6-2.
The world number one reached the quarter-finals dropping just one set and had another ominous start here, but this was to be his toughest test by far.
Before Wednesday night, Sinner had played 13 Grand Slam matches against players ranked No. 5 or higher. He had won just three. And all of them were en route to victory at this year’s Australian Open. Among his victims: Medvedev. It was a titanic struggle and the Russian was never going to give up here.
In the second set, however, it was Sinner who had to rue the missed opportunities. He had break chances in each of Medvedev’s first three service games. He was soon 5-0 down.
Suddenly, the momentum and intense exchanges from the baseline swung in favour of the Russian. Suddenly, it was a three-set shootout.
The Russian, cheered on by the crowd in New York, waves to fans after his defeat
Sinner has dropped just two sets en route to the semi-final as he seeks his first US Open title.
Medvedev had done everything he could to level the match, but the pendulum soon swung away from the fifth seed. It was soon his turn to trail 5-0. Soon it was he who was asking questions of himself and the umpire. Medvedev’s only saving grace? Sinner squandered three chances to win the match 6-0.
It all made for a rather curious atmosphere at Arthur Ashe. Two of the world’s best players were heading into the fourth set of a Grand Slam quarter-final. And yet, fans had been treated to very few moments of drama.
There were still some electrifying exchanges and both players played some brilliant tennis, although rarely at the same time.
At least they were locked in a tussle for six games in the fourth set. Sinner saved a pair of break points before creating three of his own. He needed all three.
The crowd was clamoring for more, begging Medvedev to take them deeper into the night. But for once, he failed.