Updates: Medvedev Leads Wawrinka In US Open Quarter-final

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.