Top seed Jannik Sinner will face the 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev in a blockbuster, final-worthy quarterfinal showdown on Wednesday.
This match could well have been the U.S Open final had Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev been on opposite sides of the draw. The two men run into each other with frequency and always at the business end of a tournament. That Medvedev is ranked 5th in the world means that he lands in a quarter with another top player. That it’s the second major in a row for Sinner to draw the short straw is rotten luck for the Italian.
The Sinner-Medvedev final at the Australian Open was so very nearly a win for Medvedev, who lost the title from 2 sets up for a second time in Melbourne. In 2022, he had a 2 sets lead on Rafael Nadal, before eventually succumbing in 5. Nearly the same thing happened this January, but with Sinner edging the Russian. It was the fourth win in a row Sinner posted over the Russian, and he added a fifth at the Miami Masters this March.
The thing with Medvedev though is that he isn’t one to be intimidated. The Octopus got back down to business at Wimbledon, where he defeated Sinner in yet another 5-set thriller. He holds a scant 7-5 record over Sinner. And while the Italian is generally the better ball-striker, Medvedev has been much more successful in New York. Then there’s the added complication that Sinner failed two drug tests in March. He was not ultimately suspended, but the unwanted attention has been a distraction these past few weeks.
Medvedev was my pre-tournament pick for champion, and I’m sticking with it. Both men have played well over the first week and a half. Sinner had a blip against Mackenzie McDonald in the first round, but has been crisp since. Medvedev similarly dropped a set in the first round to Dusan Lajovic. Medvedev has just been better in New York. Expect another edge-of-your-seat thriller with Medvedev snagging the win.
Cheryl pick – Medvedev in 5
