“It was like playing chess”: how the world reacted to Medvedev's exit to the US Open semi-final

One of the main sensations of the US Open tennis championship can certainly be considered Russian Daniil Medvedev, who became the youngest participant in the semifinal since 2010. In addition, for the first time in his career, he reached this stage of the tournament in Grand Slam tournaments.

In the quarter finals, the 23-year-old Muscovite confidently prevailed over Stan Wavrinka with a score of 7: 6 (8: 6), 6: 3, 3: 6, 6: 1. After the meeting, the Swiss paid tribute to the opponent, but suggested that he was unlikely to compete for the US Open title.

“Medvedev can, of course, win the tournament. But I doubt he can do it. But this is just my opinion. He looks more and more tired, and he will have to play with even stronger tennis players. But he only needs to win two matches, ”he said.

Before the start of the quarterfinals, many doubted that it was Medvedev who would come out the winner. Even then, many noted that he was not in the best physical form, but a hip injury was added to general fatigue. However, according to ex-tennis player Mikhail Yuzhny, he managed to demonstrate his character and win, despite all the circumstances.

“It was evident that Daniel was tired and playing to the limit. As a result, he surprised us with a confident victory. We are beginning to get used to these results. Medvedev shows a large margin of safety. For a long time he produces the result that everyone is used to seeing from Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic. He is ready for the physical and psychological stress of the semifinals of such a tournament. I will be watching with interest his game with Grigor Dimitrov, ”the Southern TASS quotes.

Reflecting on how Medvedev managed to get the better of a more experienced opponent, many experts identified several factors at once. So, according to the ex-first racket of the world, Mats Wilander, the Russian showed a creative style of play, which confused Wavrinka.

“A few men's matches end with a candle through an opponent. Daniel adds speed from the backhand, varying it and playing very deeply. It is very difficult to cope with such a ball, because there is no rotation as such. His right kick is also very difficult to receive. In addition, an amazing feed is another of his formidable weapons. I think now Stan is feeling terrible, and Medvedev himself did not expect such a result, ”the Swede suggested on Eurosport.

In addition, he noted that the medical timeout only went to the benefit of the Russian.

“He seemed to change his game pattern after the break. Medvedev is a tactical genius. Players are simply not used to this style of play. In my opinion, this is an amazing tennis player, ”concluded Wilander.

A similar point of view was expressed by the four-time triumphant of the Grand Slam tournaments Jim Courier.

“Indeed, for Stan it was a strange match. It seemed to me that he was not feeling well. Perhaps the Swiss could take the first set. But Medvedev showed a brilliant psychological show. It was like playing chess. And thereby knocked out an opponent from the rhythm. And this is very interesting for him, ”said the former first racket of the world.

In turn, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation (FTR) Shamil Tarpishchev noted the psychological stability of Medvedev. According to him, the athlete managed to concentrate on the match and chose the right tactics.

“Daniel pulled out of himself everything that was possible, for which he was honored and praised. I can say the same about the quality of his game. In the quarterfinals, Wawrinka did not demonstrate his tennis, and the merit in this belongs to Daniel. Our athlete did not allow himself to be driven into that rhythm that would allow him to additionally get tired. That is, he led the match. When the second wind opened, he began to replay the opponent in long rallies. As soon as he began to get tired and suffocated, he immediately switched to short draws, ”RIA Novosti quoted Tarpishchev as saying.

In turn, the honored trainer of the RSFSR Viktor Yanchuk praised Medvedev for his skill and reliability, which manifested itself in the most important moments of the match.

“In the first set, Daniel had a chance to lose, but managed to save the situation. It was a confrontation, where he was more successful and better. His game is more reliable, he held the opponent’s attacks well enough thanks to the growth, mobility and feeling of the ball. He made fewer mistakes, attacked sharply, was more stable and reliable. Medvedev clings to every ball and does not give it away, ”the expert said in an interview with Sport24.

The next opponent of Medvedev will be the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who won in five sets over the Swiss Roger Federer. Tarpishchev emphasized that it is precisely this alignment that is most suitable for the Russian.

“As for the Bulgarian, he often plays with a cutter. Wins back to the back line, where the speed of the ball is small. Due to this, Dania will seize the initiative, take risks and fall, ”added the head of the FTR.

Courier suggested that Medvedev will have time to recover for the semifinal match.

“He has two days to do this. It's enough. After the first set, it was clear that Daniel was back in the game. I think he can handle it. After all, this is something new for him, ”the expert is sure.

The honored trainer of Russia Vladimir Kamelzon expressed confidence that the fifth racket of the world will not only be able to pass Dimitrova, but will also become the triumph of the US Open this year.

“Medvedev is brilliant in simplicity, he is a uniquely intelligent person, I look at him and the game and see that he has a thought in everything that happens on the court. He knows what he is doing, remember his loss in the third set when he was resting, and then he took the opponent with his bare hands. Stan did everything he could, sometimes he acted great, found some solutions, he has excellent physical fitness. But today, such training for an age-old tennis player is prey for this youth, which doubles their speed, ”said Kamelson.

Two-time winner of the Grand Slam tournaments, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, also wished Medvedev to compete for the main trophy of the tournament in New York.

“Well done, Daniel. Honored semifinal US Open. We must have the chance to use it and take the title, ”wrote Kafelnikov on Twitter.