Russian Daniil Medvedev advanced to the semifinals for the first time in the US Open Grand Slam tournament after defeating three-time champion Stan Wawrinka in a four set match in the quarterfinals on Wednesday (4/9/2019). The match took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York.
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, the 23-year-old won with a score of 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, so he will continue the match next Friday against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or the title holder Grand Slam 20 times Roger Federer.
The match between Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev lasted fiercely for 2 hours 34 minutes. Before confirming the victory, Daniil Medvedev had to receive medical treatment because of a thigh injury.
Daniil Medvedev himself actually did not believe he could ensure victory over Stan Wawrinka. He was barely able to continue the match because he had to receive treatment on the feet. He had a left thigh muscle injury that made him think of leaving the match in the first set.
“Before the match I felt my condition was very good. In the first set I felt I had made my quadriceps muscle interested. I felt a lot of pain, and I thought I could not continue the match,” he said.
Daniil Medvedev also took time off to get medical treatment. Injury to the thigh was then given painkillers.
“But in the fourth set I started to feel the painkiller works well and I started to feel able to move better,” he said.
“Of course I hope to be in a condition that is very ready to face the semifinal round,” Medvedev said.
Daniil Medvedev, at the age of 23, is the youngest semifinalist at the US Open since Novak Djokovic in 2010.
In the semifnal round, Daniil Medvedev will face the winner of the match between Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov. Roger Federer himself is currently eyeing his sixth US Open title.
This victory makes Daniil Medvedev as the youngest player ever to advance to the US Open semifinals. Previously, a similar achievement was obtained by Novak Djokovic and Mikhail Youzhny in 2010.
“I don’t think he can do it because the next match (the semifinals) will be more difficult. He (Daniil Medvedev) looks very tired and his future opponents (Grigor Dimitrov and Roger Federer) are very tough,” Stan Wawrinka said.
“But he successfully demonstrated that anything can happen in the past few weeks. So the opportunity is still there,” he added. (AFP)
