(New York) Russian Daniil Medvedev (world No. 5), the last winner of the tournament still in the running in the men’s race, beat Italian Flavio Cobolli (31e) in three sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the round of 16 of the US Open tennis tournament on Saturday in New York.
After the eliminations of Carlos Alcaraz in the second round and Novak Djokovic in the third round, Medvedev, winner at Flushing Meadows in 2021, is now the big favourite with the Italian world number 1 Jannik Sinner, who he could meet in the quarter-finals.
Facing Cobolli, Medvedev (28 years old) seemed in control.
The match got a bit heated in the eighth game of the second set, on Medvedev’s serve. The Russian complained about the balls to the umpire, getting whistled by the crowd, before hitting two double faults, saving four break points and eventually winning after both players called on the Arthur Ashe crowd for support, following some magnificent shots.
PHOTO MATT ROURKE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Flavio Cobolli
“This game was tough, the crowd wanted me to get broken, I saved things, it was fun, I enjoyed myself,” he commented.
The Russian, struggling with his serve in the third set, managed to put pressure on the Italian to make him crack.
“It was a difficult match, I had ups and downs, it was tricky. It’s hot and humid. We played a lot of long points, with a lot of rallies. The conditions mean that the favourites perhaps have less margin” on the competition, he added.
Australian Alex De Minaur (10e) also enforced the law of classification against the British Dan Evans (184)e) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0, 6-0. De Minaur is the highest ranked player in this part of the draw, that of the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who will offer a surprise semi-finalist.
The 25-year-old Australian has never made it past the quarter-finals in a Major (2020 US Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon 2024). He will play his eighth on Monday against his compatriot Jordan Thompson (32e).