Every year, four names are etched into the tapestry of tennis history. Novak Djokovic in Melbourne. And then in Paris. Carlos Alcaraz in London. But who will it be in New York, in the cauldron that is the Arthur Ashe Stadium, who will lift be crowned US Open champion in 2023. Four contenders remain...
Daniil Medvedev survived the heat and humidity to reach a fourth semi-final in the last five years in New York, overcoming brutal conditions and his close friend Andrey Rublev in straight sets to set up a semifinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz. Rublev has reached nine Grand Slam quarter finals and lost each and every one of them. Medvedev lost the opening three games but established a firm grip over the game from then. A match defined by scorching conditions and equally fierce rallies, but the Russian World No.3 prevailed over his compatriot. In the Round of 16, Alex de Minaur was outmanoeuvred in four sets, with Medvedev rising to the Australian's early challenge. Medvedev stands in the way of a potential Alcaraz-Djokovic blockbuster showdown, and the 2021 US Open champion must not be written aside.
After four comfortable victories, the most recent one against Matteo Arnaldi in the Round of 16, rising phenom Carlos Alcaraz faced off against the German Alexander Zverev in the quarter finals. The US Open defending champion and the reigning Wimbledon champion eased past the Italian in the Round of 16, but Alexander Zverev poses a more severe threat. However, the Spanish prodigy continued his impressive form, with a dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory against Alexander Zverev. Zverev's run to the quarter final has been admirable, defeating the ever-impressive Yannik Sinner and the dangerous Grigor Dimitrov in the previous rounds. While the German posed an initial challenge, Alcaraz asserted his superiority from early on, before celebrating in homage to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
The exuberant forehand. The delicious drop shots. Alcaraz is a crowd favourite, a performer, but in every way, a complete athlete. Alcaraz improves to 24-1 in his past four major tournaments and dropped just one set en route to the last four this tournament. There have been few lapses, but the 20-year old's raw talent and power make him a deserved favourite to clash with arch-rival Novak Djokovic in the final.
Novak Djokovic. Unstoppable. Invincible. There are few adjectives that begin to illustrate the Serbian's supremacy in tennis right now. A record 47th men's Grand Slam semi-final. A record breaking 24th Grand Slam title on the line.
Djokovic maintained his perfect record in US Open quarter finals, delivering a devastating performance to overwhelm the crowd favourite Taylor Fritz at Flushing Meadows. The scorching temperatures, the high humidity, simply inconsequential. Djokovic asserted himself, fuelled by the crowd's support of the American, and responded to every setback in typical fashion. Fritz has at times shown glimpses of his undeniable talent, but was once again outclassed on the biggest stage, and the world waits for him to make a profound impact at a Grand Slam.
Djokovic already survived a scare in the third round, fighting back from two sets down against fellow Serb Laslo Djere. Djokovic had won more matches from two sets down, then Djere from two sets up, and the comeback had an air of inevitability about it. Djere's serve shocked the 23-time champion, but under pressure, the Serb displayed all the tenacity and class we have come accustomed to expect from arguably the greatest player of all time. However, it was 2 am in New York when Djere finally succumbed, and Djokovic was through to the Round of 16, where the Serbian's quest for a fourth US Open title was unchallenged by Borna Gojo. He remains on course for another showdown with Carlos Alcaraz in the final, two months after a thrilling five set clash that decided the Wimbledon champion, unless Daniil Medvedev has something to say about that.
Another night to remember for Ben Shelton in New York. The unseeded 20-year-old who has undoubtedly been the standout suprise package this season, beating Tommy Paul in the Round of 16, before defeating fellow compatriot Frances Tiafoe in four sets in an all-American epic. It was every bit 'an emotional battle', a topsy turvy match, but 50 winners and 14 aces later, he becomes the youngest American to reach the final four in New York since Michael Chang in 1992!
Twenty years after Andy Roddick smashed all expectations to win the US Open title, another American is two wins from matching his feat on just his fifth grand slam appearance. For Tiafoe, defeat was dissapointing, as he failed to better last season's career best performance at a major. The American sensation's remarkable US Open run continues, but now, the daunting, titanic Novak Djokovic challenge awaits.
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