Daniil Medvedev has saved one set point to lead 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka 7-6(6) at the US Open on Tuesday afternoon. The fifth-seeded Russian, who has compiled an 18-2 record on the 2019 North American summer hard-court swing, is bidding to reach his first Grand Slam championship semi-final.

Medvedev broke No. 23 seed Wawrinka in the first game, but brutal rallies and seven double faults eventually proved to be costly for a player who initially had tape on his right thigh, before having it cut off. Wawrinka got back into the match with a break at 4-5, but Medvedev regrouped and won the first three points of the tie-break courtesy of net approaches and drop shots — far from the 23-year-old’s normal baseline-dominated game. Wawrinka worked his way to 6/5, but with time on a forehand struck it wide.

Medvedev has won an ATP Tour-best 48 matches this season (48-16), which includes two ATP Tour titles from six finals. By contrast, Wawrinka has played a total of 43 matches (27-16), highlighted by a runner-up finish at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament (l. to Monfils) in February.

Monte Carlo resident Medvedev captured his first ATP Masters 1000 crown last month at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, which propelled him into the Top 5 of the ATP Rankings for the first time.

Rafael Nadal has earned respect among the legends of the game with on-court talent and off-court class. Rod Laver is among those who consider themselves a fan of the Spaniard.

The Aussie is at the US Open for the final leg of his Grand Slam tour this year, with each event holding special ceremonies to commemorate his second Calendar Grand Slam 50 years ago. Laver presented Nadal with his 12th Roland Garros title in June and they reunited again before main draw action started in New York, with the Spaniard praising Laver as fully deserving of his global celebration.

“[It] means a lot that he’s still around our sport. When we see him following our events, it makes the events more special and more important,” Nadal said after his fourth-round win on Monday over Marin Cilic. “[It’s] so important that our Tour pay the right tribute to all these legends. Rod is one of them, of course, one of the best of our sport ever. Probably if he will not turn professional during all these years, maybe he would win more Grand Slams than anyone playing today.

“Just for that case he can be considered top of the history of this sport. Having him him around means a lot for the fans, means a lot for the tournaments, for the players. What makes the sport bigger and more important is the combinations of new great things with the tradition and with past legends.

But it’s not just tennis legends who support Nadal. Golf superstar Tiger Woods was in the stands for his match against Cilic and, at times, fist pumped just as intensely as the World No. 2. Nadal was also present for Woods’ golf comeback in the Bahamas in December 2017 and they remain in touch throughout the year.

“It means a lot to me to have him supporting. He’s an amazing inspiration, all the things that he accomplish on the sport, the way that he managed to keep fighting that hard,” Nadal said. “To have him supporting and be able to be in touch with him very often for me is something that I am super happy [about]. I hope one day we can play golf and tennis together.”

The second seed now turns his attention to a quarter-final battle against No. 20 seed Diego Schwartzman of Argentina. Nadal has been feeding off the vibes inside Arthur Ashe Stadium this fortnight and said the energy of New York crowds still haven’t gotten old after 15 US Open appearances.”

“Difficult to describe the feelings, honestly. So special to see this amazing crowd supporting,” Nadal said. “I always had a great connection with the crowd here in New York. They are very energetic, very passionate. I consider myself like this, especially on court.

Matches like this, you come back to the hotel with plenty of energy because I really enjoyed a lot playing in front of the full crowd. Arthur Ashe Stadium here in New York, night session. It’s difficult to be better.”

After wowing New York fans with a scintillating final two sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals, Rafael Nadal was equally entertaining in his on-court interview, which centered in large part on high-profile spectator Tiger Woods.

Asked by ESPN personality Tom Rinaldi if he and Woods had ever teed it up together, the three-time US Open champion quipped, “Honestly, it’s much better if Tiger doesn’t see my swing. Maybe he would lose a little bit of rhythm after that.” Truth be told, Nadal is a very accomplished (right-handed) golfer with a handicap in the low single digits.

Nadal, who defeated Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, heaped praise on Woods, who in the past has also attended the US Open to cheer on Roger Federer.

“It’s a huge honour to play in front of all of [New York fans] but to play in front of Tiger is a very special thing,” Nadal told Rinaldi, who produced arguably his finest on-court interview of the tournament to date. “I’ve always said that I don’t have idols, but if I did I would have to say that one idol is him.

“I always try to follow him, every single shot through the whole year. For me it’s a pleasure to have him here supporting me. It means a lot. He’s a big legend of sport, one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. I want to congratulate him for one of the most amazing comebacks of the sport ever when he won The Masters this year.”

Should New York fans finally get their wish to see Nadal and Federer meet for the first time at Flushing Meadows – which can only happen if both men reach the final – Woods is likely to again want to be courtside. Who he would support is less certain.

In the quarter-finals Nadal will meet Argentine Diego Schwartzman. In the top half of the draw, Federer will play Grigor Dimitrov in their quarter-final match Tuesday.

Composed. Dominant. Efficient. Hardly a trio of words you’d use to describe Gael Monfils during his entire career, but words that do well to define the Frenchman’s first four matches at the US Open.

The 32-year-old Monfils made his ninth Grand Slam quarter-final and first since the 2016 US Open on Monday, ending the best Slam run yet for Spain’s Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in less than 90 minutes.

“Everything I did tonight was working. I think my game plan was good. I was moving good. I hit big the balls. I was in the game plan,” Monfils said.

The Frenchman dominated every aspect of the fourth-round encounter, never enduring a real challenge from the 33-year-old Andujar, who entered the US Open with a 32-79 career record on hard courts and was bidding to become the oldest player in the Open Era to reach his first Grand Slam men’s singles quarter-final.

“I have always believed that my game could fit [on a hard court], but it’s also true that I don’t play a lot on hard court. I mostly base my calendar on clay-court tournaments,” Andujar said.

Monfils converted six of 10 break points and never faced a break point on his serve. The Frenchman hit 34 winners to only six from Andujar and won 81 per cent of his second-serve points, while winning 59 per cent of those from the Spaniard. “When everything works, not much to say about it,” Monfils said.

He will face Italy’s Matteo Berrettini for a place in the US Open semi-finals, which would be Monfils’ third last-four showing at a Slam. Berrettini beat Russian Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(6).

“He’s got a big serve. Crushes the forehand. He’s a great athlete. Great mover for his height. Tough one, someone who hits big from the back. Uses his serve and his forehand,” Monfils said.

Monfils made the semi-finals at the 2008 Roland Garros and the 2016 US Open. “I play great tennis here, very great tennis. Always say that I love the atmosphere. I love the energy. The energy is very important… Definitely those stadiums here in New York are [some] of the best for my game and for my personality. I feel very comfortable, so I think that’s why I always play great tennis here,” he said.