Medvedev Motors Past Koepfer At US Open, Tsitsipas Through; Djokovic Back Thurs.
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Daniil Medvedev has been the most dominant force thus far at the US Open. The Russian former finalist has hardly been tested in two matches after breezing past 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.
Koepfer pushed Medvedev two years ago leading by a set and a break, but today Medvedev simply dominated, losing just 15 total points in his service games.
“I think it was a great match from my side,” Medvedev said. “I’m really happy. The conditions were a bit slower, quite cold indoors with the roof closed.
“It was tough to make some crazy winners or some crazy shots. That’s why I saw after the match statistics that both of us, we didn’t do a lot of winners. I had to stay super consistent. I knew it from the beginning of the match, because two years ago when I played him was a tight one. So I knew that from the beginning of the match, I have to, you know, keep my level high, and that’s what I managed to do. That’s how I won.
“So really happy with my level today.”
Tsitsipas also had a big serving day cracking a career-high 27 aces in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0 win over Adrian Mannarino. The Greek saved the only break point he would face.
“Had a great start on the first and second set, taking the lead early,” Tsitsipas said. “Did everything tactically kind of correct. Had gained that momentum from the beginning of both sets. It felt like I was just comfortable, performing at my best. Those breaks, I think they came without too much struggle and effort. I just did the right things at the right time. That gave me the lead from early on.
“In the third I had difficulties to kind of find that game, that momentum, as I did in the first and second. I think he also kind of loosened up a little bit, started playing a bit more careless, and things were kind of working in his favor more than they did for me.”
Earlier, 2-time quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev played a tight first two sets against Pedro Martinez then rolled past the Spaniard 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1.
The first Top 8 seed fell as qualified Botic Van de Zandeschulp stunned 8th-seeded Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
The Dutchman was joined by three other qualifiers advancing: Peter Gojowczyk, Henri Laaksonen and Alex Molcan.
Just 18, Carlos Alcaraz moved on in his first US Open.
Frances Tiafoe returned to the third round with a strong win over Guido Pella and in a bizarre nightcap, Diego Schwartzman chopped down former finalist Kevin Anderson 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4.
The match began on Armstrong but with the storm reaching it’s peak, rain began flying through the side vents. Play was stopped multiple times and eventually suspended for good at the start of the second as Armstrong was flooded.
With Armstrong soaked from the strong winds and rain, the match was moved and finished in Ashe after Tsitsipas.
Tomorrow, Novak Djokovic resumes his quest for the Calendar Slam and Grand Slam finalists Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini also see action.
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