By Tony Fairbairn
- Carlos Alcaraz [1] v Daniil Medvedev [3]
- Novak Djokovic [2] v Ben Shelton
NEW YORK, USA – Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev are set for a semi-final showdown at the US Open as both players look for a chance to claim their second US Open title.
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Carlos Alcaraz [1] v Daniil Medvedev [3] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-1
Carlos Alcaraz’s US Open title defence has been successful so far with the Spaniard only dropping one set so far over the opening five rounds. Alcaraz’s demolition job of Alexander Zverev was a clear message to the rest of the field that he is not ready to give up his title without a fight as he now looks to back up his Wimbledon title by winning a third Grand Slam title. Standing in the world number one’s way of a second US Open final is former champion Daniil Medvedev who has been just as efficient as Alcaraz this tournament as he cruised past Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach a third US Open final.
H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Carlos Alcaraz [1] v Daniil Medvedev [3] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-1 |
| US Open 2023 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $775,000 |
| Second on Arthur Ashe Stadium, not before 3pm (8pm BST) | Sky/Now TV Subscription Required |
Alcaraz has been ruthless so far as he looks to become the first person to successfully defend his men’s singles title at the US Open since Roger Federer in 2008. The Spaniard has overcome some tough tests already in New York and will now look to overcome one more challenger in order to reach a second US Open final.
Standing in Alcaraz’s way is someone who has also won the title before and has been equally as ruthless in the form of Medvedev. Medvedev has continued to grind down opponents as he has efficiently gone through the draw and now stands one win away from a third US Open final.
Speaking ahead of his semi-final Alcaraz spoke about his maturity and tactical evolution as he approaches a fourth Grand Slam semi-final.
“I’m more mature now. I grew up a lot since last year,” Alcaraz told the ATP website.
“Last year I was facing my first semi-final of a Grand Slam. Now I’m facing my fourth one. I feel like I’m a totally different player. It doesn’t matter that last year I got my first Grand Slam, that I won my first semi-final and final of a Grand Slam.
“I feel like I’m more mature. I deal better with the pressure in those kinds of moments. I feel like I’m different, a different person and a different player.”
Meanwhile Medvedev admitted that he will need to be 11 out of ten in terms of performance if he wants to beat Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
“It needs to be 11 out of 10 because that’s how Carlos is, very strong,” Medvedev told the ATP website.
“Even here I think he lost one set but I watched some matches, sometimes on break points he runs for the passing shots. Incredible stuff. I want to think that it’s enough, because I’m playing amazing.
“I said it on the court. I feel like starting from the third set against [Christopher] O’Connell, guys have been playing brutally good against me. He has every shot in the game. But again, tennis, you can always beat players. People beat Novak. People even beat Rafa on clay, which is almost impossible, but some players do. It’s the same about Carlos.
“Every time I will be playing against him I want to try to win.”
Alcaraz will look to take advantage of Medvedev’s deep court positioning by implementing the drop shot after pushing Medvedev back even further with aggressive baseline play. Meanwhile Medvedev will look to use a mixture of depth and angles to move Alcaraz out of position as he looks to test the Spaniard’s physicality.
This will be a great match between two former champions but Alcaraz’s mixture of power and variety maybe too strong for the defensively consistent yet passive Medvedev.
Prediction: Alcaraz in four sets.
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Novak Djokovic [2] v Ben Shelton | H2H: First Meeting
After a third round scare against compatriot Laslo Djere, it has been an efficient tournament from the soon-to-be world number one Novak Djokovic. The Serb has been brutal in his efficiency as he has cruised into a 13th US Open semi-final and now has his sights set on a 24th Grand Slam title. Standing in his way is exciting American talent Ben Shelton who is into his first Grand Slam semi-final after an entertaining four set win over Frances Tiafoe with the American setting his sights on more history.
H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Novak Djokovic [2] v Ben Shelton | H2H: First Meeting |
| US Open 2023 | New York, USA |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: $775,000 |
| Third on Arthur Ashe Stadium, not before 7pm (Midnight BST, Saturday) | Sky/Now TV Subscription Required |
After a setback in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic has regained his place at the top of the men’s game with a title in Cincinnati followed by a dominant tournament in New York. Now Djokovic will look to continue his dominance into the last two matches as he looks for another milestone as he searches for a 24th Grand Slam title.
Next for Djokovic is one of the rising starts in American tennis in the form of Shelton who is into his first Grand Slam semi-final after playing some electric tennis at the US Open. Now Shelton will look to continue his fearless tennis as he is the youngest semi-finalist at the US Open for 30 years.
After his semi-final Djokovic spoke about finding enjoyment within the stress of searching for more history.
“I’m trying to enjoy the moments on the court, but there is so much stress and pressure going on that it’s hard to have fun, so to say, on the court,” Djokovic told the ATP website.
“It’s really about finding a way to navigate through the match and win a tennis match for me. But off the court, in terms of the actual journey of still being a professional tennis player and going around the world, travelling with my coaching team, we try to keep things light off the court and have fun and enjoy life, because in the end of the day, you have to find that optimal balance.”
Meanwhile Shelton spoke about his emotions on court during his quarter-final win over Tiafoe.
“I’m thinking to myself as I’m walking to get my towel in the fourth set, and it’s, like, this is the greatest moment on the tennis court of my life, and I’m in a lot of pain, you know, physically. But I’m loving it,” Shelton told the US Open website.
“There’s plenty of times where I could have gone over to my box today and said, ‘Guys, I’m cooked. I’m tired. I don’t know if I can go anymore.’ Instead, I told myself, ‘I’m fine and he’s feeling it too.’ I think being able to flip it in your head is more than half the battle.”
Djokovic will look to get as many balls back into play as possible as he looks to use depth to force erratic errors from Shelton.Meanwhile Shelton will look to use his lightening quick serve and forehand to get off to a quick start and put Djokovic under early pressure.
It is sure to be an electric atmosphere as Shelton will do everything he can to make Djokovic tense and emotionally erratic. However Djokovic’s experience should prove too pivotal as he looks for his first US Open final in two years.
Prediction: Djokovic in straight sets.
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