Medvedev Continues US Open Domination, Alcaraz Wins In 5 Again; Djokovic, Zverev Back Mon.

Daniil Medvedev appears to be in unstoppable form at the US Open. The Russian hammered Dan Evans today 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in just 1 hour, 43 minutes.

Medvedev didn’t lost a point in the third set and only dropped serve once.

“Great match, because first match against Evans, and he’s a tough opponent to play against, really tricky,” Medvedev stated. “Said a few times, but, you know, he was only player to have a match point against Stan when Stan won the title. That means something.

“He’s top player for many years already, so I knew I had to keep my focus from start to finish. I was serving good. I was trying to change up the game, mix up the game, and I’m really happy that I beat such tough opponent with that score and with that much energy left, I would say.

The 25-year-old has won 12 of his last 13 matches en route to his third straight US Open quarterfinals.

“Feeling great before the second week. Feeling great with my tennis, my mental, my physical. Just looking forward,” Medvedev added.

Ahead will be the surprise of the men’s field, Botic Van de Zandschulp. The 25-year-old continued his amazing run, navigating through qualifier and now winning a fourth match in the main draw upsetting No. 11 seed Diego Schwartzman in five sets 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1.

“I was surprised I won the first set for the first time here. I have to say I played in the first three sets till two sets for me, 4-2, I played pretty good, played flawlessly,” Van de Zandschulp said. “From there on, yeah, I start thinking maybe you can win the match, started to get a little bit nervous. Yeah, lost the third in 7-5 and in the fourth, yeah, same thing happened, I think, 5-4, two match points, then lost again 7-5.

“I thought in the fifth I played my best tennis of the match. Played aggressively, and, yeah, I think in the end I deserved to win.”

The Dutchman failed to convert two match points in the fourth but got the job done with another five set win.

Ranked No. 117, Van de Zandschulp had a total of five career main draw tour wins entering New York.

“I started in quallies here. Didn’t really expect before the tournament that I would make the quallies here,” he said. “Of course I won like two rounds, one in Wimbledon, one in Roland Garros. Yeah, beat one good player, Hurkacz I beat in Roland Garros, and so I knew that I could beat players who are ranked 20 or 10 in the world. But I didn’t do it like this often, this consistently. I think I’m playing really consistently here, showing some good tennis throughout the whole tournament. So, yeah, that’s new for me.”

Teen Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest quarterfinalist at the US Open in the Open Era coming from 2 sets to 1 down to deny a leg-weary Peter Gojowczyk 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.

“I’m super excited to be in my first second week in the Grand Slam, so it’s amazing for me. It’s a dream come true,” Alcaraz said.

The 18-year-old started out strong but errors crept in and so did the German qualifier. Gojowczyk would get to one set from a first Slam quarter, but after treatment on his leg, the veteran was dusted.

“It’s really tough to play these kind of matches, to play fifth sets,” Alcaraz said. “I hope to play more second weeks, to play more quarterfinals of Grand Slams.

“I didn’t expect to play quarterfinals here. So I think it’s a really good performance from me in these matches, so I’m really happy to play these kind of matches.”

Alcaraz also becomes the youngest to win consecutive 5-setters at a Slam since 16-year-old Michael Chang in 1988 and the youngest to make an Elite Eight at a Slam since 18-year-old at the 1990 French.

Alcaraz will now meet 21-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime who rallied from a set down, won a tight third set to take it over American hope Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(6), 6-4 to reach his second straight Grand Slam quarterfinal.

On Monday, the fourth round concludes with Novak Djokovic in the evening meeting American 20-year-old Jenson Brooksby. During the day, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner collide for a third time.

Matteo Berrettini and Reilly Opelka are also in action.

MONDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Day Session – 12:00 PM Start
Alexander Zverev (GER) [4] vs. Jannik Sinner (ITA) [13]
Shelby Rogers (USA) vs. Emma Raducanu (GBR) (Q)

Arthur Ashe Stadium, Night Session – 7:00 PM Start
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [1] vs. Jenson Brooksby (USA) (WC)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) [17] vs. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) [6]

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Day Session – 11:00 AM Start
Belinda Bencic (SUI) [11] vs. Iga Swiatek (POL) [7]
Not Before 1:00 PM
Reilly Opelka (USA) [22] vs. Lloyd Harris (RSA)
Not Before 3:00 PM
Oscar Otte (GER) (Q) vs. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) [6]