Daniil Medvedev earned a US Open semi-final place under the toughest of conditions on Wednesday as he survived brutal, hothouse temperatures to defeat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
The endurance test which lasted nearly three hours only ended on the fifth match point for the exhausted third seed, at the end of a final game lasting for at least a quarter of an hour.
The struggle between good friends – Rublev is godfather to Medvedev’s infant daughter – featured 14 breaks of serve.
Temperatures were well into the 40s Celsius as the pair struggled in their quarter-final.
2021 New York champion Medvedev and his mate were facing off for the eighth time, all on hard courts.
Medvedv now has a day to get ready for his semi-final against the winner from
top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
“It was brutal, the only good thing was that we both suffered,” Medvedev said.
“It was rough for both of us. There were some ups and downs, but that’s normal.
“At the end of the first set I couldn’t see the ball any more, I was playing with sensations.
“I still tried to go for it, tried to run – and it was the same for him.”
The third seed rated his effort “10 out of 10. Every match I’ve played here was a hell of a fight all the way to the semi-finals.”
Medvedev improved to 6-2 over his friend and appeared in an Open quarter-final for the fourth time in five years.
Rublev remains winless at this stage at the majors, having lost all nine times he’s reached the last quarters; he has reached the last eight this season in Melbourne, Wimbledon and here.
Main photo:- US Open New York Day 10 – Daniil Medvedev tries to cool down as he wins quarter final match – Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
