09/10/2021 4:29 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 09/10/2021 17:10
Novak Djokovic, first seed, and Daniil Medvedev, second, are in the
semifinals of the US Open
, where they seek to reach the final.
Before they will have to overcome Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, and
Felix Auger-Aliassime
, the twelfth seed, respectively.
And it is the Russian who takes the initiative in the first of the duels,
by leading 6-4
in the first set against the Canadian, the "stone guest" of this quartet of semifinalists.
On paper, Medvedev, who reached his third consecutive semifinals at the Open, has it easier against Auger-Aliassime, whom he has faced once, in 2018 and achieved victory when the Canadian was just 18 years old, in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 in Canada.
The Russian tennis player, who still does not have a Grand Slam title in his possession, is aware that he is a very different player from the one who reached his first semifinal at the Open three years ago and who two years ago beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to reach the final that he later lost to Spanish Rafael Nadal (2019).
"Since then I have learned great lessons on and off the field, which I hope to apply when I face Auger-Aliassime," Medvedev commented.
The 26-year-old Russian player tries to hand it to Auger-Aliassime, who reaches his first Open semi-final and also a Grand Slam, and is aware that he starts at a disadvantage.
Felix Auger-Aliassime is the youngest among the four semi-finalists.
Photo: AFP
"I lived them in the final that I lost against Rafa (Nadal) in 2019 and last year in the semifinal against Dominic (Thiem). Now they are not here and my obligation is to show that I learned the lessons with the defeats."
"He is going to come in with a lot of confidence. I also need to step up and have confidence in myself. I need to serve well, play a great game, be solid in all aspects of my tennis and above all be ready to fight from start to finish. end of the game because it will be one in which I will have to run for real, "said Auger-Aliassime.
Nole
, for the Grand Slam feat
The 34-year-old Djokovic arrived in time for the semifinals for his tenth clash with fourth-placed Alexander Zverev, whom he leads 6-3, but who comes from endorsing his worst defeat, the one that hurt him the most, the semifinal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games that left him without the great goal of getting the gold medal in the same year that he seeks to complete the Grand Slam cycle.
The three-time champion came within two victories of becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the Grand Slam and, despite having lost a set in four of his five matches, announced that he found his way to perfect form. "I took my tennis to a different level. It sure was the best three sets of tennis I have played so far in the tournament," he said of the final sets in his win over Matteo Berrettini.
Djokovic has a date with history.
Photo: AFP
Zverev, 24, is on a 16-game winning streak, adding an ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati to his pre-Open Olympics gold medal.
"He is in fantastic form. Next to Medvedev, the best form. But he is the best of five, it is a Grand Slam. Of course, looking at his results in recent years, he has played very well here on this court. couple of points from his first Slam last year against Dominic (Thiem) ", admitted this Friday Djokovic.
"I know it is going to be a battle, even more difficult than the one I have had to face so far, but I am ready for that. These are the obstacles that I must overcome to reach the desired destination," added Djokovic.
Alexander Zverev goes for another hit against Nole.
Photo: AFP
Zverev, who has lost just one set, to American Jack Sock in his 2021 campaign, knocked down South African Lloyd Harris in straight sets to reserve his return to the semifinals and is aware that the duel with Djokovic is an anticipated final for him. .
"You have to be perfect, otherwise you won't win and most of the time you can't be perfect," Zverev admitted.
"That's why most of the time people lose to him because you have to win the game yourself."
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