Medvedev Rolls, Tsitsipas Through in Four Sets

September 2, 2021 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Medvedev_Crop
Photo Credit: Darren Carroll/USTA

 

Daniil Medvedev needed just one hour and 48 minutes to knock off Dominick Koepfer on Wednesday afternoon, ousting the German 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to secure his spot in the U.S. Open third round.

The second-seeded Medvedev, a finalist in 2019, is now into the third round in Flushing Meadows for a fourth consecutive year.

“It was a great level from me,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “There were a few tight moments in the match which I managed to hold well and play well. At one moment his level dropped a little bit and I took advantage of it. I am really happy to be through in less than two hours.”

Medvedev was sharp on Wednesday, and made sure to get off the court quickly against Koepfer. He committed just 10 unforced errors over the final two sets, and converting break points in the opening games of both the second and third sets.

The Russian is happy to have his unique relationship with the New York crowd back as well.

“It is really special to be back with the crowd in New York,” he said. “It was a pity that last year we couldn’t have the crowd. I am just trying to be myself, sometimes in the bad moments as some people can remember and sometimes in the good moments, I just try to be myself and then the people can decide.”

In the third round, Medvedev will play Spain’s Pablo Andujar, who defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday.

Late in the night, as rain battered down on Arthur Ashe Stadium, Stefanos Tsitsipas was pushed to a fourth set by France’s Adrian Mannarino, but was able to come through with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-0 victory.Stefanos Tsitsipas salutes the crowd that stuck around inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night. (Photo Credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA)

Tsitsipas took an extended bathroom break after losing the third set tiebreaker, and upon returning boomed three straight aces to hold in the opening game of the fourth set. Mannarino seemed to injure his foot as he chased down a Tsitsipas lob early in the fourth, and Tsitsipas was relentless in his effort to finish the match off. He handed Mannarino a bagel in the final set to move on.

“I could hear [the rain]. At first I thought it was the crowd, just people talking on the back seats,” Tsitsipas said. “I just realised it was not the crowd, it was the rain. Just a lot of noise coming from up there… I do have a bed here, so I might have a sleepover here tonight.”

Up next for Tsitsipas is Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, who continued his run in Queens by way of a 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over France’s Arthur Rinderknech.Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz continues his excellent 2021 run with a trip to the U.S. Open third round. (Photo Credit: Rhea Nall/USTA)

“It was a great match and performance from me,” Alcaraz said. “I feel I played really well throughout. Every player is tough. Reaching the third round is great for me and I am really happy.”

American Frances Tiafoe wasted no time in booking his spot in the third round as he took out Argentina’s Guido Pella 6-1, 6-2, 7-5. The Maryland native blasted 38 winners and converted eight break points. He plays fifth-seed Andrey Rublev next. The Russian defeated Spaniard Pedro Martinez 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-1, hitting 67 winners in the process.American Frances Tiafoe has dropped just one set thus far at the 2021 U.S. Open. (Photo Credit: Manuela Davies/USTA) 

In the final match of Day Three, Diego Schwartzman overcame Kevin Anderson and a court change, as he advanced with a 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4. Schwartzman and Anderson were forced to move from Louis Armstrong Stadium as the heavy winds outside blew rain inside the stadium, and they finished their match inside Ashe after Tsitsipas and Mannarino finished.

“I am very happy and I was able to play my best tennis in the last two sets. He served better on Arthur Ashe [Anderson hit 24 aces in total], but I was able to take my opportunities and my second serve held up. I wanted to finish today, not tomorrow.”Diego Schwartzman prevailed against Kevin Anderson late into the New York night on Day Three at the 2021 U.S. Open. (Photo Credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA)

The 11th seeded Argentine will take on Slovakian Alex Molcan, who knocked off American Brandon Nakashima 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands upset eighth-seed Casper Ruud of Norway 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, and will play Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis next.

Click Here to see full results from Day Three at the 2021 U.S. Open

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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