US Open: Daniil Medvedev takes on Stan Wawrinka's challenge of reaching the semi-finals

Daniil Medvedev, the man the crowds love to hate, thought he might have to leave early in the first leg of his quarter-final after contracting a muscle in his left upper leg.

His opponent, Stan Wawrinka, triple major champion, never thought that Medvedev would stop. Wawrinka was right. And now, Medvedev, world No. 5, the best player on the men's track on hard ground in recent weeks, will head to his first Grand Slam semifinal.

Medvedev drew much attention to Flushing Meadows for the way he sarcastically thanked the crowds, tracking them down by suggesting that their venom was the reason he had continued to win. Now, maybe people will pay more attention to the unusual brand of 23-year-old Russian tennis that brought him ahead of Wawrinka 7-6 (6) 6-3 3-6 6-1 on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT) despite 12 double faults and a body that is about to break down.

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When asked how he described his relationship with the New York fans, who had made fun of him when he was introduced to Arthur Ashe Stadium but said hello to him later, Medvedev said, "I have first word, of course, "electric" because it is electric, and secondly, "controversy".

"So many people like my interviews, so many people do not like me," he says with a smile. "I can just say: I'm trying to be myself, guys."

Taking a brief look at his professional wrestler character, he added, "I must say," Sorry, guys. "And" thank you "and then laughed.

In the semifinal, Medvedev will face the winner of Tuesday night's game (Wednesday NZT) between Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov.

In the first female quarterfinal, No. 5 Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, beat No. 16 Johanna Konta, of England, 6-4 6-4.

Under the eyes of her boyfriend Gael Monfils, the day before her quarter-final, Svitolina has qualified for the semi-finals of a second consecutive major tournament after never having gone that far.

"Now," Svitolina joked about Monfils, "he needs to improve his game."

She now meets Serena Williams in the semi-finals, after the American defeated Wang Qiang of China 6-1 6-0 in just 44 minutes.

Medvedev started the match with black ribbon strips along his right arm and his two legs, remaining problems resulting from long matches earlier in the tournament, and being the busiest man in the sector. He leads the draw round in 2019 and has also reached the final in three consecutive hard focus tournaments.

Federer, for example, only participated in one of these events and went 1-1.

Wawrinka said he was not too concerned about Medvedev's visits by a first-set coach, knowing that the guy had complained of health problems after previous matches.

"He continues to win, to play well, and to play better and better as the match progresses," said Wawrinka, champion of the 2016 US Open who had beaten two sets in the fourth round when the champion in title Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from his club. correspond to an injury to the shoulder.

"I saw him play in the last few games and I said he was suffering and he was suffering, some players like to show everyone that they are hurting. others hide it. "

After getting rushed to the net when the openings came in the first set, Medvedev shifted into the second, using a mixture of throws and lobs to shorten the points. It worked. Even after a dive in the third set, Medvedev is affirmed in the fourth.

The last quarterfinals will be held Wednesday (Thursday NZT).