Top seed Jannik Sinner will face 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev in a blockbuster, final-worthy quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday.
This match could well have been the U.S Open final had Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev been on opposite sides of the draw. The two men run into each other with frequency and always at the business end of a tournament. That Medvedev is ranked fifth in the world means that he lands in a quarter with another top player. That it’s the second major in a row for Sinner to draw the short straw is rotten luck for the Italian.
The Sinner-Medvedev final at the Australian Open was so very nearly a win for Medvedev, who lost the title from two sets up for a second time in Melbourne. In 2022 he had a two-set lead over Rafael Nadal before eventually succumbing in five. Sinner’s success Down Under marked fourth win in a row for him over Medvedev and the 22-year-old added a fifth at the Miami Masters in March.
The thing with Medvedev, though, is that he isn’t one to be intimidated. The Octopus got back down to business at Wimbledon, where he defeated Sinner in yet another five-set thriller. He holds a 7-5 record in the head-to-head series. And while Sinner is generally the better ball-striker, Medvedev has been much more successful in New York. Then there’s the added complication that Sinner failed two drug tests in March. He was not ultimately suspended, but the unwanted attention has been a distraction these past couple of weeks.
Medvedev was my pre-tournament pick for champion, and I’m sticking with it. Both men have played well over the first week and a half. Sinner had a blip against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round but has been crisp since. Medvedev similarly dropped a set in the first round to Dusan Lajovic.
The world No. 5 has simply been better at Flushing Meadows. Expect another edge-of-your-seat thriller, with Medvedev snagging the win.
Cheryl pick: Medvedev in 5
Ricky pick: Medvedev in 5
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Oh, gosh. I love both of these guys.
And Cheryl, you remind me of AO and Meddy’s tough loss. I plead blind, deaf, and dumb about that drug test thing; it makes me squeamish.
My ATP picks are way off. I picked a Carlos/Nole final.
WWW?
Sinner in 5, maybe 4
My picks are way off as well, but I’m picking Draper or Fritz to win it all (Yes….Draper!)….and I like Sinner in 4 vs Med.
you wild
Medvedev in 4 sets easily
How lopsided are these sets. It just shows that once a player zones in with their respective formula, its difficult to stop. Not that great for the creativity of tennis, however.
Agree 100%