WHAT HAPPENED: In an all-Russian battle of childhood friends from Moscow, top 10 seeds both, Daniil Medvedev defeated Andrey Rublev, 7-6, 6-3, 7-6, capitalizing on opportunities in two very tight tiebreaks that bookended the match.
“One point decided two sets,” said Medvedev after the win, which lifted him into the semifinals of the US Open for the second consecutive year.
Facing a 1-5 deficit in the first set tiebreak, Medvedev, the third seed and last year’s runner-up, stormed back to win seven of the next eight points against Rublev. At 6-points-all, Medvedev was stretched wide of the doubles alley, deep in the court; he punched an improbable defensive backhand around the post and deep in the corner, catching Rublev off-guard and earning a set point.
Rublev, 22, who had never won a set as a pro against his older and higher-ranked compatriot, initially made an aggressive bid to reverse his fortunes in the first set. Though they went to a tiebreak in the first set, Rublev had been outplaying the third seed and getting rewarded for his play with uncharacteristic errors off Medvedev’s racquet. Rublev was sailing through his service games, winning more than 80 percent of first-service points, when things suddenly turned south.
Rublev erupted in frustration, slamming his racquet on the court and angrily throwing bananas on the changeover, looking like a caged zoo animal.
Unlike the tightly contested first set, the second was all Medvedev. The third seed started raining down winners to take the set in just 31 minutes.
Rublev made a valiant-but-ultimately-futile effort to make inroads in the final set. As he neared the finish line, Medvedev suddenly injected an element of surprise into the match, suffering from cramps and getting his playing arm massaged on the changeover, at 4-5.
The tall Russian powered through, however, tossing his cat-and-mouse game aside in favor of quick-strike tennis, to put the match away in a third-set tiebreak.
“It was tough at the end. I felt like I could get in trouble,” admitted Medvedev.
WHAT IT MEANS: Medvedev, seeking to return to the US Open final for a second consecutive year, looks to be in commanding form. The 23-year-old Russian has not lost a set through five matches.
In the semifinal, Medvedev faces the winner of tonight’s contest between No. 2 Dominic Thiem and 21st seed Alex de Minaur.
The 6-foot-6 Medvedev is an unorthodox and extremely tricky player. Both his speed and explosive power are unexpected. The Russian slices and dices opponents in rallies before very suddenly dropping the hammer with a violently whipped forehand.
Rublev, who in 2017 became the youngest US Open quarterfinalist since Andy Roddick in 2001, is more of a one-dimensional player. He has essentially one speed and game plan: to crush the ball at first opportunity with his big forehand.
Rublev has yet to win a set against Medvedev as a pro.
MATCH POINT: Besides Medvedev, the only player remaining in the draw who has been to a Grand Slam final is Thiem. The Russian lost his only final appearance, in five thrilling sets at the 2019 US Open to Rafael Nadal, whereas Thiem is 0-3.
Watch highlights from the Medvedev-Rublev quarterfinal below.
