Matching Report
Medvedev restores order to US Open night session
The former World No. 1 denies Cobolli’s desire to stage a third successive upset inside Arthur Ashe Stadium
September 01, 2024
ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev plays a backhand against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during their third round match at the US Open.
By ATP staff
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev restored order at the US Open on Saturday evening after the chaotic exits of former champion Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz the previous two nights.
The 28-year-old, the only remaining champion in the men’s field, held off a tough challenge from Italy’s young Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours, 18 minutes to finish fourth. -round by round with Nuno Borges from Portugal.
“I said before the game that for me feeling bad is not important. Only thing [is when] the conditions are deceiving the favorites may have a smaller margin than the other guys. You have to be very careful,” said Medvedev, who improved to 38-13 on the season. [21-6 on hard courts].
“If I play good tennis I can win everything. If I don’t play well, I can lose to anyone.”
The players captivated fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium with a series of cool rallies, where Cobolli often forced Medvedev to defend like an octopus with his arms full of gangs and his trademark defensive skills were tested to the limit.
Medvedev’s return to deep court kept Cobolli under pressure to perform throughout the match. The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion cultivated 20 break chances, converting seven. While he threw in the towel three times himself, Medvedev won 81 percent of the first games and carved out 33 winners, including nine aces.
“It was a tough game. It was just a little bit up and down,” Medvedev said. “And at one point I started playing a lot better in my role than in his.
“It was a tough game. It’s very humid, very hot out there. I think it slowed things down a bit because I was watching other games before mine… it was a fun game to play. The crowd was packed, I feel, for such a long time. And I was enjoying myself.”
The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings remains on course for a blockbuster quarter-final with No. 1 current Jannik Sinner, who plays American Tommy Paul in the last 16.
Flavio Cobolli in X Games mode here in the third set 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4DnzxVSzB0
– US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2024
Should he win this title, Medvedev could move up to number 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings and reach second place in the PIF ATP Race to Turin, as he seeks to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin from 10-17 November. .
Medvedev enjoyed a strong Grand Slam run in 2024, reaching the final of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of Wimbledon, but is still seeking his first title since winning the ATP Masters 1000 title in Rome last May.
The 2021 champion and two-time finisher has now reached the second week at Flushing Meadows for six consecutive years.
