Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers and for the third time in 2023 when they meet again in the U.S. Open semifinals on Friday.
Medvedev won their first encounter 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 during second-round action at Wimbledon in 2021, but the story has been much a different one since Alcaraz became the current Alcaraz. The Russian has not gotten more than three games in any set this year, as Alcaraz rolled 6-3, 6-2 in the Indian Wells title match and 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Still, there is no reason for Medvedev to go into this rematch with a defeatist attitude. The surface was too fast and low bouncing for him at Wimbledon, where he played virtually miles behind the baseline and got abused by drop shots. In Indian Wells it was infamously too slow, as Medvedev struggled to hit through the court but Alcaraz was able to produce winners with his incredible firepower.
U.S. Open conditions, on the other hand, are perfect for Medvedev. This has to be considered the 27-year-old’s favorite tournament, as he finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal (in a five-setter) in 2019 and captured the title (destroyed Novak Djokovic in straight sets) in 2021. Medvedev is up to his usual tricks in New York this summer with victories over Attila Balazs, Christopher O’Connell, Sebastian Baez, Alex de Minaur, and Andrey Rublev. Only O’Connell and De Minaur managed to take a set–O’Connell in a tiebreaker that Medvedev choked away and De Minaur before getting clobbered 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the next three sets.
Of course, Alcaraz is similarly right at home in New York. The top-ranked Spaniard is the defending champion, after all, and he is obviously a real contender to go back-to-back. Alcaraz is two wins away from successful title defense following defeats of Dominik Koepfer, Lloyd Harris, Dan Evans, Matteo Arnaldi, and Alexander Zverev. The 20-year-old dropped just one set to Evans on his way to the semifinals.
This should be a good one, as Medvedev will undoubtedly learn from his mistakes at Wimbledon and play more aggressively–and closer to the baseline. That will likely work for a while and give him a better chance than he had in either London or Palm Springs, but will be enough? Probably not. Even in the best conditions for Medvedev this is still a favorable matchup for Alcaraz, whose offense and overall shot-making may be too much for the underdog in the end.
Pick: Alcaraz in 5
[yop_poll id=”555″]
WWW?
Alc in four
ALCARAZ in 3 – easy!
I like Medvedev, on and off the court….but Carlos at a different level (as Zv said in his press conf yesterday)…Carlos in 3
Medvedev is too good on this court now to win a set and he’s playing well, too.
“not to win a set”
Medvedev to win in five sets.
But I picked Carlos to make the final. Medvedev has impressed me, and I’m a bigger Meddie fan. Carlos is fun to watch, too. Both are original. I have never seen anyone like either one of them.
I really like Meddy and his sarcasm s. But I can’t see him getting near Alcaraz after his previous performances against him. He doesn’t seem to be able to adapt his game to play Carlos. If he keeps standing so far back he will get slaughtered.
I want to think Meddy will figure out a way to beat Carlos. For now, I did not pick Meddy to reach the US Open final b/c Carlos.
Elizabeth called Meddy winning. Congrats to her! Am surprised but pleased for Meddy and his endless sarcasms and quotable lines.
Wow, all over.
Djokovic v Medvedev final
Medvedev went for a 2nd serve ace on match point
This is the most exciting tennis I have seen. These guys are putting on a show, and I missed the first three sets. Meddy breaks!! The Russian has the better serve. 5-2 Meddy in the fourth set. They are both beauties!
Meddy tightened up, serving for it. Duece. Ad in and back to Duece.
Game set and Match, Medvedev!! This should have been the final. Tennis doesn’t get any better. Carlos has so many winners. Too bad someone had to lose.
😄👏😄👏
I want him to win the title. And his on-court interview steals the show.
Anybody thinks meddy has chance against djoko ?
He had made a statement pre uso presser ..I hope after uso ppl will talk abt me ..this year all attention on carlos n dojoko..no one talking abt anyone else.
I think he saw carlos as his main obstacle…he thinks he can beat djoko will he .I don’t know..edge to djoko for sure n he’s fav
Didn’t see match, obviously, but apparently Meddy’s serve was the key, and Carlos’ forehand was not as good as usual.
Oh well, highlights on youtube for me!
I’ve just seen the first set so far. Meddy was playing more aggressive than usual really hurting his groundstrokes and serve.Before the match the commies kept saying he had to do this not stand ten feet behind the baseline. Enjoying the Sky coverage and listening to some different commies like Feli Lopez and Andrea Petkovic.And between times, they even showed classic US open matches like Mcenrie-Borg 1980
Not really ..both plated very well in first and fourth ..carlos just made some poor errors in the tb ..I think his drop shot cost him here..
Fourth some gets from meddy and some angles were wow..
Except second set ,the match was very interesting
Really *hitting his groundstrokes .Takes nothing away from Alcaraz
Wish I could watch the replay!!😠😠
Am very pleased for Meddy.
Try Youtube.They have some entire matches as well as highlights.
Apparently Carlos played sub par. Did wonder before the tournament if he would feel the pressure of defending his title.
He said in his presser that he thought he had matured however this match proved he has not as he could not find solutions on court ..
I wanted meddy in final frankly as carlos can get too flashy and make more unforced than usual and you need to play a bit measured to beat djokovic
Saw highlights although only 8 minutes. Med’s movement around the court given how tall he is was amazing. Was clearly way more clutch. Definitely think he can beat Novak although bit worried that pressure on him to win a second major will affect him adversely.
His serve is key. Has to serve really well up against Novak ‘s return.
I’m thinking the same way amy!..tho in my bracket i picked him😄
At FO,everyone expect him to win & he lost,at wimby he was 2nd fav & win when every attention was on novak..now he lost again while been the fav..clearly he still can’t handle the pressure well despite talking much about the growing up thingy..but the quality of match…just WOWZER!..compared to Novak/shelton👎..a big disappointment for me!..
nice predictions.