- Medvedev overcomes heat to secure win over compatriot
- Defending champion Alcaraz into semis
- Sabalenka continues dominant form, Keys goes through
Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys all came through their quarter final matches in straight sets to complete the men’s and women’s singles semi-final line ups at the US Open.
Medvedev wins all Russian Clash, Alcaraz sees off Zverev
In a gruelling match marked by sweltering conditions, Medvedev clinched a spot in the last four by defeating fellow Russian Andrey Rublev. Medvedev, seeded third, battled through the hot and humid New York weather, expressing concerns about the extreme conditions affecting players’ well-being.
During the match, Medvedev even remarked to a camera, “One player is going to die and you are going to see.” Despite apparent struggles with his breathing, he managed to secure a decisive victory over Rublev with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday.
Up next for Medvedev is a face-off against defending champion Alcaraz, who delivered a commanding performance against the German 12th seed Alexander Zverev, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Alcaraz demonstrated remarkable resilience, fending off five break points on his way to a well-earned victory.
Both men’s semi-final matches are scheduled to take place at Flushing Meadows on Friday. In the earlier match, Serb second seed Novak Djokovic, on a quest to secure a record-equalling 24th major title, will go head-to-head with promising young American talent Ben Shelton. The action is set to kick off at 15:00 local time (20:00 BST).
Sabalenka Cruises to third US Open in a row
In the women’s singles Sabalenka, the tournament’s second seed, continued her dominant form to clinch a spot in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year. Her powerful performance led to a straight-sets victory over Chinese 23rd seed Zheng Qinwen, with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-4. This week brought additional good news for the 25-year-old Belarusian, as she learned she would ascend to the coveted world number one ranking post-tournament.
Despite her impressive track record, Sabalenka has yet to advance to the final in New York. In her upcoming semi-final clash, she will face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys. The American secured her own spot in the semis with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova.
Reflecting on her performance, Sabalenka shared her enthusiasm, saying, “I think I definitely played great tennis today and I’m super happy to win. She has played great tennis at the US Open.” Sabalenka’s previous semi-final challenges came against formidable opponents, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez and Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Looking ahead, Sabalenka expressed her determination to surpass her previous semi-final efforts, stating, “Now I have the opportunity to do better in the semis. I have learned [since the previous semi-finals] that I am ready to engage in extended rallies and stay focused on every point. I’ve also worked on enhancing my physical endurance, ensuring I stay fresh on court. I’m prepared to perform at my best, no matter where I need to play.” Sabalenka’s commitment and strategic approach set the stage for an exciting semi-final showdown.
Betting Implications
All four players came through in straight sets, which will be beneficial to them in terms of recovery. However, the hot and humid conditions mean that those matches will still have taken their toll.
At the time of writing bet365 have Djokovic as favourite for the men’s singles over Alcaraz, the Serb currently priced at 8/11 ahead of the defending champion, 5/4, with Medvedev 10/1 and Shelton 50/1.
For the women’s singles they have, at the time of writing, Sabalenka as favourite at 6/5 ahead of Coco Gauff, 7/4, Karolina Muchova, 5/1 and Keys, 6/1.
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