On Sunday, Daniil Medvedev will encounter Novak Djokovic for the title in the US Open final after a four-set victory over the Carlos Alcaraz, although he did have a comment for some of the 20-year-old’s mischievous supporters.
Medvedev ripped up the script by smashing world number one Alcaraz, winning 7-6 (3) 6-1 3-6 6-3 in New York.
Many supporters were expecting the tennis wunderkind to secure another final with Djokovic to continue their feud, following their mega Wimbledon final which Alcaraz won in June.
But world number three Medvedev had other thoughts as he looked to claim back the US Open title he won two years ago.
Alcaraz has rapidly become the poster boy of the post-big Three era, despite two of the three still attaching around with Djokovic adding titles to his wardrobe and Rafael Nadal training for his final season on the tour.
As such, the young Spaniard had a bunch of supporters in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, but it seems Medvedev won them over with his playful charm and perfect serve, on more than one event cupping his ears to the noise.
But he was not pleased with the tricks of ‘about 1,000 Spaniards’ who tried to set the Russians off in the closing stages of the match by shouting between serves.
“First of all, I have to be fair, the crowd was incredible today, absolutely incredible,” he said in his on-court interview after the massive win.
“I mean it. We had some crazy points and I felt love for both sides. The only thing is likely that 1,000 Spanish guys at 5-3 began yelling between the second and second serves. That’s not so pleasant. But I think they were desperate. I’m glad it didn’t help and they can go to sleep now.”
In the post-game press conference, he even pledged to toss out fans for doing the same if he ever saw them in the stands.
