ANOTHER blockbuster clash between world number one Daniil Medvedev and Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios will face off in the fourth round of the US Open after winning their respective Round of 32 matches today. The pair clashed in the second round of the Australian Open in a controversial match which resulted in Medvedev getting the victory, while Kyrgios returned serve last month at the Canadian Open.
Medvedev took down China’s last US Open hope in Yibing Wu in straight sets, while 23rd seed Kyrgios ousted local talent J.J. Wolf in a similar fashion. The pair set up what is highly anticipated as a must-watch fourth round contest in an open top half of the draw, and just one other Top 10 seed in the half. Medvedev served 12 aces and won 71 and 55 per cent of his serve points, breaking six times to one and hitting 10 more winners (26-16) and 15 less unforced errors (27-42) in the victory. Kyrgios put down a whopping 21 aces to Wolf’s six, and won 77 and 56 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 71 per cent clip, saving all seven break point opportunities against him, and breaking the American five times from 11 chances.
“We’ve played great matches. I think all have been quite tight on the scoreboard,” Medvedev said post-match. “It’s 3-1 to him but I will try to do better this time and it will be a great match for people to watch.
“Tonight I feel like I played at a quite high level and I was serving a little better than him, which was the key. “There were a lot of tight games and I felt the level of the match was high.”
There is more on the line than a spot in the quarter finals for Medvedev, who will lose his number one spot if he drops the match to Kyrgios, with Spanish star Rafael Nadal taking that mantle. The Russian is eyeing off becoming the first back-to-back US Open winner since Roger Federer won five consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows from 2004-08.
US OPEN MEN’S SINGLES RESULTS: ROUND OF 32
[1] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated Yibing Wu (CHN) 6-4 6-2 6-2
[5] Casper Ruud (NOR) defeated [29] Tommy Paul (USA) 7-6 6-7 7-6 5-7 6-0
[12] Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated [18] Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6-1 6-1 3-6 7-6
[13] Matteo Berrettini (ITA) defeated Andy Murray (GBR) 6-4 6-4 6-7 6-3
[23] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated J.J. Wolf (USA) 6-4 6-2 6-3
[27] Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Jack Draper (GBR) 6-3 4-6 6-5 RET
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) defeated Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-4
Corentin Moutet (FRA) defeated Pedro Cachin (ARG) 6-3 4-6 6-2 7-5
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