A controversially lengthy break after dropping the primary set to Alex de Minaur fuelled a surprising comeback from Daniil Medvedev, who ended the top-ranked Australian’s US Open run with a complete four-set victory.
Medvedev, the 2021 champion, complained of respiratory points after dropping the primary set 6-2 to red-hot de Minaur of their fourth spherical conflict and raced off Louis Armstrong Arena, taking all his gear, which commentator Todd Woodbridge lashed as “gamesmanship”.
Having beforehand referred to as on match medical workers to carry him an inhaler, Medvedev spent a very long time within the locker room, which cruelled all of de Minaur’s first-set momentum.
“A 31-minute set, Medvedev leaves the court, took his whole bag … why do you need to leave the court for that long?” Woodbridge mentioned, fuming.
“It’s not a toilet break, is he changing his full kit? Shouldn’t that be at a certain time?
“I tell you, I think our sport really has to do something about these changeovers. It’s just such a crutch that everyone seems to go to when they’re down, and it’s just not part of the game.”
When Medvedev returned he introduced his grand slam greatest, scorching via the subsequent three units to report a convincing 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory for the world No.3, serving out the ultimate recreation to like to finish a two-match dropping streak in opposition to his Australian opponent.
Medvedev referred to as the situations – pronounced warmth and humidity – “brutal” and mentioned they impacted him early earlier than he recovered.
“One moment I thought I’m not going to be able to play until the end it was so tough,” he mentioned.
“Then I looked at him and he’s one of the best guys physically by far and he was starting to move less and less, so I was like, ‘OK, let’s go to five’, and I managed to sever much better and this changed the match.”
De Minaur, the final Australian standing within the occasion, has solely ever reached one grand slam quarter-final, on the US Open in 2020, and regardless of having his greatest 12 months in opposition to top-10 ranked gamers, with six victories, he’s been unable to take the subsequent step on the majors.
The 24-year-old, who has jumped to a career-high rating of 12, had additionally overwhelmed Medvedev twice in 2023 however, of their first grand slam encounter, was unable to go along with the previous world No.1 for greater than the opening two units.
Medvedev thrives in New York, the place he has now gained 25 of his previous 27 matches, together with his title-winning run in 2021.
Source: www.news.com.au
