The headlines haven’t been great at the Western & Southern Open. Rafael Nadal withdrew. Andy Murray exited right away and then announced he would not play the U.S. Open. Roger Federer lost his third-round match in straight sets. One of the men’s quarterfinals was not even played due to a Yoshihito Nishioka illness. Nick Kyrgios had another meltdown. Alexander Zverev double-faulted 20 times in a single match. Serena Williams pulled out. Naomi Osaka retired from her quarterfinal match due to injury.
But it hasn’t been all bad.
Daniil Medvedev, who used to be a Kyrgios kind of character but has toned it down and gotten down to business in recent seasons, has maintained his amazing form in Cincinnati. At this rate, it is looking like he may be the only person to challenge the Big 3 throughout the rest of 2019. Maybe.
Medvedev booked a spot in the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over fellow Russian Andrey Rublev on Friday evening. Rublev upset Federer one day earlier. Medvedev finished runner-up in both Washington, D.C. and Montreal, and so far this week he has not dropped a single set.
The world No. 9 is joined in the semis by none other than Richard Gasquet, who was out for six months with a groin injury earlier this year. But the Frenchman is reminding us of the talent that he has had throughout his up-and-down career. From out of nowhere, Gasquet is through to his first Masters 1000 semifinal since 2013 (Miami) after knocking off a red-hot Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2 on Friday afternoon.
“I know how tough it was to come back,” Gasquet noted. “I know the moments I had at the start of the year, so I just wanted to enjoy, to fight. Of course, it’s not easy to come back after six months out, but I’m here. I’m in semis tomorrow.”
Next up for the resurgent veteran is David Goffin, who got the walkover from Nishioka.
“It will be tough,” Gasquet assured. “He’s a great player. He’s playing very fast. I need to recover now a little bit to be ready for tomorrow, because, as I said, he doesn’t miss. He’s playing fast, especially with the backhand. It will be a tough battle for me. It’s the semis. I have nothing to lose, so I try my best.”
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