US Open: Teenager Leylah Fernandez beats Elina Svitolina to reach semi-finals
Teenager Leylah Fernandez produces another fearless performance to beat Elina Svitolina and set up a US Open semi-final with Aryna Sabalenka.
Teenager Leylah Fernandez produces another fearless performance to beat Elina Svitolina and set up a US Open semi-final with Aryna Sabalenka.
Juan Martin del Potro has encountered many physical challenges throughout his career. In an interview with ESPN on Tuesday at the US Open, the Argentine made clear that he is still fighting.
“I love the challenge. It could be a tennis challenge or a different challenge in life. This is the toughest match of my career, because I cannot deal with these kind of injuries, this pain that I have now. But I’m still trying and trying,” Del Potro said. “This is the life. I believe in myself that this is going to be in the past for sure. But I think it’s also a message to the young kids, to all the players, to all the people around the world that they never have to give up following a dream and that’s what I’m doing with myself.”
Del Potro shared a hit on the practice courts with former World No. 1 John McEnroe. Although the 32-year-old is not up to full speed yet, he is thrilled to be progressing towards a return.
“I’m so happy to be back… this place is amazing to me. I had a great opportunity to play with John. One of the reasons that I came here was him,” Del Potro said. “I’m so happy to be back in my place, in my tournament. I’m excited to feel better and be back as a protagonist next year and be on court.”
The 2009 US Open champion said “the knee is much better”. Del Potro is still recovering, but spending time on court, and he is eager to start his comeback next season. Returning to Flushing Meadows, where Del Potro also made the final in 2018, has made the ‘Tower of Tandil’ even hungrier.
“The practice with you was the better part of the day,” Del Potro told McEnroe. “When I was watching the [Daniil] Medvedev match, it was a little bit frustrating to me watching these guys play and me [being] on the outside and not being the guy who is playing, fighting for the trophy.
“This is what happened to me at the moment, but I’m positive. I’m fighting to keep moving and hopefully next year I can be a protagonist again and play tennis.”
Del Potro has not competed since Queen’s Club in June 2019. During that time, he believes there has been a shift in how the game is played.
“I’m seeing the older players are playing an aggressive game, just serves and forehands and very short points. From my point of view, a guy who makes a smart game, a smart play, he has a chance to win a tournament,” Del Potro said. “That’s the reason Novak is still playing. I think he has the experience, he has the game and he’s very smart on court. But the other guys are very strong, and that gives a little message to me, because if I am healthy, I will be in that position again.”
It was fitting to have Del Potro back at a tournament in New York given his unforgettable accomplishments at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. No matter what happens in the future, nobody will ever be able to take those away from the Argentine fan favorite.
“This tournament makes me feel unbelievable on court, off court too. That’s why I decided to come,” Del Potro said. “I need the love from the crowd, from the people.”
Britain’s Joe Salisbury progresses through to the men’s doubles semi-finals at the US Open.
Fourth seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury survived a major scare Tuesday at the US Open as they saved four match points before edging past Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell 7-6(7), 6-7(6), 7-6(10) to reach the semi-finals in New York for the second time.
The American-British team squandered a match point at 6/5 in the second-set tie-break, before saving four match points themselves at 4/6, 5/6, 7/8 and 9/10 in the final-set tie-break to advance after two hours and 58 minutes.
They will next play Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey after the Americans moved past sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau 6-2, 7-6(5) to reach their second semi-final as a team at Flushing Meadows, after enjoying a run to the last four in 2015.
Eighth seeds John Peers and Filip Polasek also advanced, upsetting 2015 champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-3.
The Australian-Slovakian tandem are competing together for the fourth time, after first teaming in Washington at the start of the North American hard-court swing. Peers and Polasek did not face a break point against the third seeds, hitting 10 aces to advance.
They will meet seventh seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, upset second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4.
As Alexander Zverev’s serve goes, so does his tennis, and strong serving over the past two months has helped the German to the best stretch of form in his career.
“My serve is kind of the key to my game. When it’s working, I’m playing great. When it’s not, I’m losing matches like I did at Wimbledon,” Zverev said. “I think it’s no secret that my serve is probably the most important shot in my game, and I’m happy with how it’s working. I hope I continue to get better throughout the next few matches and everything else.
“The matches are not going to get easier and I will need that to be my weapon.”
Could the 24-year-old’s serve help him win his first major title at the US Open? So far, so good.
No player remaining in the draw has won a higher percentage of service games than Zverev. The fourth seed has claimed 96 per cent of his service games (54/56) through four matches, dropping serve just twice.
2021 US Open Service Stats – Alexander Zverev
| Stat | Alexander Zverev |
| 1st-Serve Pts Won | 82% (179/217) |
| 2nd-Serve Pts Won | 60% (53/89) |
| Break Pts Saved | 75% (6/8) |
| Service Gmaes Won | 96% (54/56) |
Only two players in the field of 128 lost their serve less than twice during their stay in New York and both players, Jiri Vesely and Evgeny Donskoy, lost in the first round. Zverev also ranks second among remaining players in first-serve points won (behind Lloyd Harris) and second in second-serve points won (behind Carlos Alcaraz).
The German’s toughest test yet came in the fourth round against Jannik Sinner. But Zverev triumphed in straight sets against the 13th seed, saving six of the seven break point he faced. Glaringly, 26 per cent of his second serves went unreturned compared to 13 per cent for Sinner.
“It’s not easy playing against him. [He] has confidence. He serves well,” Sinner said. “When someone is serving well, you can try a little bit [different things] in the return game.”
Zverev’s last loss came against Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon. In that match, he hit 20 double faults and won just 34 per cent of his second-serve points.
“In Tokyo, all of a sudden it clicked, because in Wimbledon I had a very bad serving match against Felix. That was the reason I lost,” Zverev said. “Since Tokyo, it’s been a lot better, but it can still be a lot better, as well.”
That is a scary thought for the remainder of the field, as Zverev has won 15 consecutive matches. During that stretch, the German has dropped just three sets.
Last year at Flushing Meadows, Zverev advanced to his first major final and came within two points of the trophy. But that run was almost in spite of his serve. In four of his seven matches, he hit at least 10 double faults, including 15 in the final against Dominic Thiem. En route to the quarter-finals, he faced 25 break points.
In his first four matches combined this year, he has hit 10 double faults and faced just eight break points.
“The serve is the shot I spend the most time on. It’s the shot I practise the most as well,” Zverev said. “I am someone that needs that repetition, and I feel like the hard work maybe [is starting to come] along.”
Zverev will hope that continues in the quarter-finals against Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.
Daniil Medvedev ends qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp’s battling run to reach the US Open semi-finals and keep his bid for a maiden Grand Slam trophy alive.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev further strengthened his title credentials Tuesday at the US Open, where he overcame qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 to reach his third consecutive semi-final in New York.
The Russian, who captured his 200th career win in the first-round victory against Richard Gasquet, had not dropped a set before today.
The World No. 2 played with confidence against van de Zandschulp, firing 36 winners and winning 83 per cent (54/65) of first-serve points as he raised his level in the fourth set to advance after two hours and 22 minutes.
“First two sets he was missing and I was controlling the game,” Medevedev said in his on-court interview. “But then he started missing less and hit with more power and played more aggressively. The break point he won he hit a forehand winner, so it became a lot tougher for me.
“I am happy with my game in the fourth set because on my first serve, I only lost two points and I always felt under pressure. Then at 6-5 he got a little bit tight, and I managed to do it without the tie-break, which is helpful.”
Chasing his first maiden title, Medvedev remains on course for a potential blockbuster final against World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who is aiming to capture the Grand Slam at the US Open. The 25-year-old will first have to overcome a tricky test against either 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or #NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the last four.
The Russian has a strong record at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2019, Medvedev reached his maiden major final in New York, rallying from two sets down to force a fifth set against Rafael Nadal in the championship match before falling short. He also advanced to the semi-finals without dropping a set last year before losing to eventual champion Dominic Thiem.
“In 2019 was my first Slam breakthrough, so already New York is in my heart, especially with the final against Rafael [Nadal],” Medvedev said. “Then last year, I still reached the semi-finals, losing to Dominic [Thiem] who played amazingly. I just want to do a little bit better than the last two times and get over this last little step, which is the toughest one.”
Medvedev captured his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto and enjoyed a run to the last four in Cincinnati before arriving at Flushing Meadows last week. The Russian, who has also lifted trophies in Marseille and Mallorca this year, now holds a 16-2 record since Wimbledon.
In their first ATP Head2Head meeting, Medvedev dictated against van de Zandschulp as he moved inside the baseline to hammer his flat groundstrokes. The Russian hit with great depth in the first set to take time away from van de Zandschulp, breaking three times as he sealed the opener on his fourth set point.
The Dutchman had spent more than 19 hours on court, including in the qualifying rounds, 12 more than Medvedev had, and this began to show in the second set. The qualifier won just 38 per cent (6/16) of first-serve points in the set as he appeared to be tiring.
However, the qualifier raised his intensity in the third set to gain a foothold in the match, as Medvedev started to misfire on his forehand. In a tight fourth set, Medvedev was made to work hard as van de Zandschulp continued to cover the court and use the drop shot to good effect to disrupt the Russian’s rhythm. After squandering a match point at 5-4 in the set, Medvedev finally clinched his victory as he broke in the 12th game to advance.
“Botic played so many tough matches and today he was able to still come back and in the fourth set, anything could have happened,” Medvedev added. “It was an amazing level from him and if he continues to play like this he is going to be Top 50 minimum.”
Van de Zandschulp enjoyed a breakthrough run at the US Open, capturing the biggest wins of his career against eighth seed Casper Ruud and 11th seed Diego Schwartzman en route to his first major quarter-final. The World No. 117 was the first Dutchman to reach the last eight at a Slam since Sjeng Schalken at Wimbledon in 2004.
American Shelby Rogers voices concerns about death threats she expects to receive on social media after her US Open fourth-round defeat by Emma Raducanu.
Maria Sakkari comes from a set down to beat Bianca Andreescu in a gruelling encounter and reach her first US Open quarter-final.
Two of the most exciting #NextGenATP stars — Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime — begin what may be a fascinating ATP Head2Head rivalry of the future on Tuesday at the US Open, last on Arthur Ashe Stadium. It will be the youngest US Open quarter-final for 15 years, when 20-year-old Rafael Nadal faced 19-year-old Novak Djokovic at 2006 Roland Garros.
Alcaraz, the youngest US Open quarter-finalist in the Open Era (since April 1968), will be hoping to continue his breakthrough season with another fearless performance of power tennis against 12th seed Auger-Aliassime, the youngest man to reach back-to-back Grand Slam quarter-finals since Juan Martin del Potro in 2008-2009.
Two days after he upset third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to become the youngest man to defeat a Top 3 player at the US Open, 18-year-old Alcaraz secured back-to-back five-set victories for the first time in his career by beating Peter Gojowczyk 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 in the fourth round. The Spaniard has won 25 of his past 30 matches (at any level) and is the youngest man to reach the tournament’s quarter-finals since Thomaz Koch (18) in 1963.
“Carlos is a great player,” said Auger-Aliassime. “[A] great person also. He deserves to be in this position. He’s going to be [at the] top of the game, I think, for many years in the future… I think he’s playing good and he will keep playing well in this tournament, so I have to prepare myself for the best of him.”
Aliassime, who has struck 77 aces in four matches (the third most at the tournament, after Reilly Opelka’s 109 aces and Lloyd Harris’ 87 aces), continues to strengthen every aspect of his game under the guidance of coaches Frederic Fontang and Toni Nadal. The 22-year-old has beaten the ever-consistent Roberto Bautista Agut and Frances Tiafoe en route to the last eight at Flushing Meadows, and at No. 15 in the FedEx ATP Rankings attempts to take the next step: a place in his first major championship semi-finals.
Exclusive: Ferrero On Alcaraz’s Rise
Signed At 12, Alcaraz Investment Now Paying Rich Dividends
Photo: Andrew Ong/USTA
In another first-time meeting, World No. 2 and 2019 finalist Daniil Medvedev challenges Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp first on Arthur Ashe Stadium from 12 noon.
Medvedev has yet to drop a set in four matches at this year’s US Open, with victories over Richard Gasquet, Dominic Koepfer, Pablo Andujar and 24th seed Daniel Evans. The Russian has won 15 of his past 17 matches since Wimbledon, including his fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy at the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers in Toronto (d. Opelka).
Van de Zandschulp came into the US Open with just 11 tour-level matches under his belt; he’d never even visited the United States prior to a fortnight ago, but having come through qualifications and stand-out main draw wins over the likes of eighth seed Casper Ruud and 11th seed Diego Schwartzman, the Dutchman is riding on the crest of a wave. The World No. 117 is the first Dutch male to reached a major championship quarter-final since Sjeng Schalken at 2004 Wimbledon.
Coming To America: Botic’s Big-Time Debut
“I saw [a] few matches of his before,” said Medvedev. “I remember he played Karen [Khachanov] in Melbourne, had match point against him. [I] saw him practice a few times. I know kind of how he plays. I know he can play well. I saw this today [Sunday], especially he chose very good tactics against Diego.
“I’m going to prepare with my coach [Gilles Cervara] tactically as much as I can after. Again, if I serve well, if I play well, I know that it’s not easy to play against me. He has some matches in his legs. I’m going to try to use it and try to win.”
