New York (AFP)

World No.2 Daniil Medvedev, rival of Novak Djokovic, in search of a historic Grand Slam calendar, qualified for the last four of the US Open, also reached on Tuesday for the first time by sensation Leylah Fernandez, Only 19 years old, and Aryna Sabalenka.

The Russian continued his health walk at the US Open, even though he lost a set against Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5).

It is the third consecutive year that he has reached the last four at Flushing Meadows.

In 2019, he was beaten in the final by Rafael Nadal at the end of an epic final, and last year the Austrian Dominic Thiem stopped him in the half, before being crowned.

“I just want to do a little better and take the last step, which is the hardest,” he said.

Medvedev, who had passed each of his previous four laps in less than two hours and three dry sets, this time exceeded this target, as he won in 2:23.

He will not have accumulated until 9.47am on the road to the last square.

Without really drawing on its resources therefore.

By way of comparison, Van de Zandschulp, from qualifying had already 19h37 min in the legs before this match.

And that was seen during the first two races, where he was crushed by the Russian in steamroller mode.

- Last stand -

The 25-year-old Dutchman however had a last stand in the third, finally being able to rely on a first returned ball.

And in the fourth set, he continued to hamper Medvedev, yet one of the best turners on the circuit.

But at 6-5 against him, after saving a match point at 5-4, he broke down, pushed to the fault by Medvedev.

Medvedev on duty against Botic van de Zandschulp in the quarterfinals of the US Open, September 7, 2021 TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP

"It's an incredible journey to go from qualifying to quarterbacks," the latter paid tribute to him.

"He has played so many difficult games and he was able to come back to the game anyway."

Finalist at the Australian Open in February, swept away by Djokovic, the Russian will try to qualify for his third final of a Major.

But it will first be necessary to rule out the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (15th) or the young Carlos Alcaraz, who caused a sensation in the 3rd round, by eliminating Stefanos Tsitsipas (3rd).

The 18-year-old Spaniard could become the youngest US Open men's semi-finalist in a Grand Slam tournament since Michael Chang won Roland Garros at 17 in 1989.

In the meantime, it was another teenager who stood out, as Leylah Fernandez qualified by beating 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (5th in the world).

- "Fight" -

Since she took out the defending champion Naomi Osaka in the 3rd round, then the German Angelique Kerber in the 8th, the Canadian (73rd) continues to cross this US Open like in a dream.

This is also, she confided, what her father's trainer advised her: "Today, he told me + Fight on every point. This is your first quarterback. a Grand Slam. Don't make it your last game here. Fight for your dream + ".

The young Canadian Leylah Fernandez during her match won against the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals of the US Open, September 7, 2021 TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP

And she fought until the tie-break of the third set, after having often led to the score and seen her opponent not let go and pick up.

The flip-flop came at 5-5, when Fernandez passed a pass, with the help of the net, to get match point.

She was the right one since Svitolina, semifinalist in 2019, committed a direct fault, before going to congratulate her rival who was barely getting up from putting her knees on the ground with emotion.

In the semifinals, Fernandez will still have to fight against Aryna Sabalenka (2nd), victorious 6-1, 6-4 over Czech Barbora Krejcikova (9th)

The Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka reached for the first time the last four of the US Open by beating the Czech Barbora Krejcikova, September 7, 2021 Ed JONES AFP

The Belarusian who reached, like her future opponent, the last four of the US Open for the first time, was very impressive against the winner of the last Roland-Garros, often making the lightning talk with a lot of winning points.

Certainly favorite, Sabalenka expects a big challenge: "she plays well, she moves well and I know she will have nothing to lose," she said of Fernandez.

© 2021 AFP