WHAT HAPPENED: Daniil Medvedev has never been one to shy away from a challenge. In 2023 the No. 3 seed’s mission is to create a seismic ripple that will rupture the US Open men’s singles draw with the thunderous might of a speeding 7 train bound for the bright lights of Manhattan.
So far, so good for the 2021 champion.
On Tuesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Medvedev increased his lifetime record to 24-5 at Flushing Meadows with an imperious shellacking of Hungary’s Attila Balazs, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.
“Always good to start well, so I’m happy with my performance," a contented Medvedev said after his win. “Looking forward to the next matches and to play as long as possible in New York. Hopefully I can play better and better every match because every match will be more difficult than the previous one."
Does Medvedev, who has racked up five titles on the season as he features as the ATP’s hard court win leader in 2023 (with 33), think he can effectively play the role of disruptor at Flushing Meadows this year?
"Consciously, I don't think about it. I just try to win," he deadpanned when asked by the media on Friday. "That's most important. But unconsciously, I feel like many times I was playing good in this role. Hopefully it can help me these two weeks."
While talk at the Open centers around top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz and his budding rivalry with Grand Slam juggernaut Novak Djokovic as the Flushing fortnight kicks off, Medvedev sits as a worthy third favorite in the eyes of many.
He did nothing to discourage that bent as he rummaged past the 34-year-old Balazs with alarming ease on Tuesday. The 27-year-old former world No.1 didn’t put a foot wrong as he steamed into station with a decisive victory, behind eight breaks of serve, in a blink-and-you-missed it one hour and 14 minutes.
Does he feel as if he’s traveling under the radar this year, with Alcaraz and Djokovic deservedly spending so much time in the spotlight?
“I don’t care,” he said with a smile, adding: “It’s normal that Carlos and Novak are the biggest names right now.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Medvedev, tucked in a quadrant of Carlos Alcaraz’s top half of the draw, has taken the first step in the direction of a semifinal showdown with the defending champion in New York. Though he has dropped both of his meetings with the soaring Spaniard in 2023, Medvedev hopes and believes that a change of scenery will do his chances good.
“It's mostly that I hope when I lose that I learn, otherwise it's even tougher to lose because I lost for nothing,” he said last week, when asked to reflect on those two losses. “I hope I learn from this. Every time I go to the tournament, to the next one, I hope I can do better.”
MATCH POINT: Ruthless Medvedev hammered 41 winners against just 13 unforced errors, and never faced a break point against Balazs. The World No. 3 leads all players on the ATP Tour since 2018 in hard-court titles (18), finals (27) and wins (230).
