Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz praised Daniil Medvedev’s performance after the United States Open semi-final loss to the Russian. The moment highlighted Medvedev’s control and precision as he advanced toward the final, a point of focus for fans and analysts alike in Canada and the United States.
The match began with a solid showing from Alcaraz. The first set proved intense and tightly contested. When the score reached 3:3 in the tiebreak, Medvedev accelerated, unleashing a sequence of aggressive rallies that unsettled Alcaraz. The Spaniard admits he lost his rhythm after that stretch, experiencing a stretch of 50 minutes where he struggled to regain balance and composure. Rebuilding after that moment proved challenging, and the difficulty extended into the second set, where Alcaraz found it hard to reverse the momentum.
Medvedev was in peak form, delivering fast paced shots and making few unforced errors. Alcaraz noted the difficulty of restarting his game after Medvedev’s surge, acknowledging that the forehand movement was particularly effective on this occasion. In previous meetings, sharp shots had provided openings, but today the rhythm did not come together for Alcaraz as he would have hoped.
Medvedev found precise targets and robust serving, maintaining a level of depth and power that made every point count. The Russian’s return game was especially formidable, keeping Alcaraz under pressure from the baseline as Medvedev exploited angles and pace to keep his opponent on the back foot. Alcaraz described Medvedev’s backcourt depth as a major challenge, noting the ability to stand far behind the baseline yet still hit with speed and accuracy, an unusual combination that proved difficult to counter.
The match lasted three hours and nineteen minutes and concluded with set scores of seven games to six, with a seven to three tiebreak in the first set, followed by six-one, three-six, and six-three in the subsequent sets. The lengthy encounter demonstrated Medvedev’s consistency and Alcaraz’s resilience, with the latter showing moments of late resurgence but not enough to swing the match in his favor.
With Medvedev advancing, the stage was set for a final showdown against the world number two, Novak Djokovic, who had defeated the United States’ Ben Shelton in the other semi-final. Djokovic’s journey to the final continued a storied rivalry with Medvedev, with Medvedev having previously captured the US Open title in two thousand twenty-one by defeating Djokovic in the championship match.
The United States Open remains one of the four major championships in professional tennis, held annually in New York City. The event draws attention across North America, with many fans following the action from coast to coast. The conclusion of the tournament marks another chapter in a season of high-level competition, featuring a blend of rising talents and established champions who have shaped the modern era of the sport.
Earlier in the week, Medvedev had made remarks about the atmosphere surrounding the U.S. Open, reflecting on the fans and the dynamics of playing under the bright lights of a grand slam venue. The exchange added another layer to a tournament defined by intense on-court battles and a dedicated global following.