Sinner, Medvedev set for US Open quarter-final showdown

NEW YORK—World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and former champion Daniil Medvedev have set up a highly anticipated quarter-final clash at the US Open, as they vie to capitalize on the unexpected exits of top seeds Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, secured his place in the last eight for the second time by overcoming U.S. 14th seed Tommy Paul in straight sets, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

The Italian star, who had to rally from a 4-1 deficit in the first set, is gearing up for a tough battle against Medvedev.

“It will be another tough match with Daniil. There will be a lot of rallies, so I have to be ready physically,” Sinner said, acknowledging the challenge ahead.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, cruised past Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory, marking his fifth quarter-final appearance in six years.

The Russian is the last former champion standing after Djokovic and Alcaraz were knocked out earlier in the tournament.

Sinner and Medvedev will meet for the fourth time this year, with Sinner holding a 2-1 edge in their 2023 encounters. Their rivalry has been intense, with Sinner winning in the Australian Open final and the Miami semi-finals, while Medvedev triumphed in a five-set quarter-final at Wimbledon.

“I will try to think more about Wimbledon than the Australian Open,” Medvedev commented, reflecting on their upcoming match.

“With Jannik, I feel like we know our games, what we will try to bring to the table, and then it comes to always this moment’s deuce, breakpoint, maybe try to surprise him or not, what he will do, what I will do.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper made history by becoming the first British man since Andy Murray in 2016 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old left-hander defeated Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2, continuing his impressive run by dropping serve just once in the tournament so far.

Draper credited Murray, a former world No. 1 and 2012 US Open champion who recently retired, for his inspiration.

“He’s a legend and an icon, and if I have half the career that he had, I will be a happy man,” Draper said.

On the women’s side, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek continued her quest for a sixth Grand Slam title with a straightforward 6-4, 6-1 win over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova.

Swiatek will face American sixth seed Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals, a rematch of their 2022 quarter-final clash, which Swiatek won en route to her title.

“There will be some long rallies and intense hitting,” Swiatek predicted about her upcoming match against Pegula.

Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia also made headlines by becoming the first Brazilian woman since Maria Bueno in 1968 to reach the US Open quarter-finals.

Haddad Maia defeated former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and will face Karolina Muchova next. Muchova, the 2023 semi-finalist, has yet to drop a set in the tournament.