New York (AFP)
Devilishly real, without forcing his talent, Daniil Medvedev bluntly dismissed the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime on Friday to join his second US Open final, where he now waits to know who Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev will join him on Sunday.
The world No.2 got rid of the Canadian (15th) 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 in just over two hours.
The Russian, who was beaten in 2019 at this point by Rafael Nadal after an epic five-set fight.
"If the same type of crazy game takes place, I hope it ends differently," he smiled into the microphone on the Arthur Ashe.
Semi-finalist last year at Flushing Meadows, defeated by Austrian Dominic Thiem, future winner of the tournament, Medvedev this time perfectly held his position against his young opponent of 21 years, which was the first foray into the last square of a Major, even if he felt "not to have played at (his) best level".
However, he was devilishly realistic, managing to convert all the break points he got, that is to say five.
Certainly helped by an opponent guilty of too many unforced errors (39).
The Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, during his defeat against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, in the semi-final of the US Open, September 10, 2021 in New York ELSA GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
A 100% that occurred first in the seventh game of the first set, pocketed on his sixth ace (12 in total).
- To the economy -
In the second set, Medvedev was broken at 4-1 with a double fault.
Leading 5-2, Auger-Aliassime obtained two set points, erased by his opponent, who suddenly raised his level and released his shots.
“I had to get back to my best because at that point I knew I could mentally break him and that's what happened,” he explained.
Russian Daniil Medvedev, during his US Open semi-final against Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, on September 10, 2021 in New York ELSA GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
The Russian was then irresistible, lining up five games in a row - including eleven consecutive points scored on the last three, again by breaking twice on the first shot.
In the third set, Auger-Aliassime, weighed down by too many double faults (10), dropped completely, realizing that he had no chance of reversing the trend.
Medvedev quickly flew away, two more times on the first try, only to be done in just over two hours.
Glad to have saved himself in this way, the Muscovite is now waiting to know who Djokovic, who had crushed him in the final in Melbourne in February, or Zverev will be his opponent on Sunday.
The joy of Russian Daniil Medvedev, winner (6-4, 7-5, 6-2) of Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, in the semi-final of the US Open, September 10, 2021 in New York Kena Betancur AFP
"It's always better to qualify first, then I'll take the opportunity to rest and enjoy watching the other semi-final which is going to be a hell of a game. I suggest everyone to watch it." , he concluded.
- Djokovic on a "GOAT" mission -
In the night session, the Serbian will try to climb against the German, the penultimate step on his route to a historic Grand Slam in the same year, something more successful since Rod Laver in 1969. The Australian now aged The 83-year-old is also present in New York to witness this possible feat which would also bring to 21 the record for the number of major titles collected by a single player.
If he succeeds, the 34-year-old Serb will no longer be able to be challenged, in terms of the record at least, the status of "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time, greatest player of all time) of tennis, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal being blocked at 20 coronations.
Serbian Novak Djokovic, after his victory in the quarter-final of the US Open against the Italian Matteo Berrttini on September 8, 2021 in New York, is only two games away from a historic Grand Slam calendar Sarah Stier GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
In the meantime, Djokovic can already manage to equal the Swiss again, with what would be his 31st Grand Slam final, a men's record.
He would also become the oldest US Open finalist since Andre Agassi, 35 in 2005, and may be the oldest winner since Ken Rosewall, 35 in 1970.
He will first have to dismiss Zverev and it will not be an easy task, because the German is the player in form of the summer, since his Olympic gold medal won in Tokyo in early August, after having him in the process. beaten in the semi-final when he was however badly embarked, led 1 set to 0 with a break behind.
The Cincinnati Masters 1000 pocketed in stride, the 4th player in the world is now 16 wins in a row, after having passed each of his laps without incident at Flushing Meadows.
© 2021 AFP