Medvedev Moves Past Andujar At US Open
Second seed Daniil Medvedev continued his perfect run in New York Friday as he cruised past Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-0, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the fourth round at the US Open for the third straight year.
The Russian, who overcame Richard Gasquet in the first round to record his 200th match win, is yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this week. The 25-year-old played with confidence against Andujar, hammering groundstrokes and winning 76 per cent (32/42) of his first-serve points to secure his victory after one hour and 56 minutes.
The World No. 2 has now compiled a 14-2 record since Wimbledon, capturing his fourth ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto and advancing to the semi-finals in Cincinnati. Medvedev, who has also lifted trophies in Marseille and Mallorca this year, will next face 24th seed Daniel Evans or Australian Alexei Popyrin.
The 12-time tour-level titlist is aiming to capture his first major title in New York, after falling to Rafael Nadal in five sets in the US Open final in 2019 and then to Novak Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open championship match. The Russian also reached the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows last year.
Medvedev made a fast against Andujar, breaking in the opening game of the first set as he pinned the Spaniard behind the baseline with his flat groundstrokes. The 25-year-old struck the ball with great power and consistency, committing just three unforced errors and dropping only two points on serve to lead.
Despite Andujar raising his intensity and level in the second set, he lost his serve in the fifth game. The World No. 74 was unable to convert two break points at 4/5, before firing a forehand wide as Medvedev moved to within one set of his victory. The Russian broke three times and hit seven winners in the third set to advance.
Andujar rallied from two-sets-to-love down in his opening-round victory against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin and was aiming to reach the fourth round at the US Open for the second time, after enjoying a run to the last 16 in 2019.