New York, US, Sept 6 (EFE).- Russian player Daniil Medvedev, who won a ticket to the United States Open semifinals on Wednesday, complained bitterly about the overwhelming and oppressive heat in New York, stressing that tennis players suffer and endure harsh penalties on the court.
“You cannot imagine, one player is going to die, and then they’re going to see,” he said during the third set of his quarterfinal match, looking straight into a television camera as he wiped away sweat.
Medvedev defeated compatriot Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 47 minutes and will play the winner of tonight’s quarterfinal between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
As it has been the case for the last few days, this US Open match was played in sweltering heat of around 34 degrees Celsius (93°F), with almost 50% humidity and a wind chill of nearly 37 degrees, testing both players to the limit.
Medvedev, for example, called for medical assistance twice for some breathing problem, using an inhaler on both occasions.
“It was brutal. The only good thing I see in these conditions is that both players suffer,” he said resignedly on the court at the end of the match.
“Honestly, at the end of the first set, I couldn’t see the ball anymore,” Medvedev said, explaining that he had to let his “feelings” and instincts take over and try to catch every ball.
“We were tired all the time—brutal conditions. Super hard to win,” he noted.
Both born in Moscow, Medvedev and Rublev are close friends, so much so that the former chose the latter to be his daughter’s godfather.
“I know he never gives up, but he knows I don’t either,” Medvedev said with a smile after the duel.
Rublev has reached the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam nine times (four in New York) but never the semifinals.
Medvedev, the US Open champion in 2021, was delighted with his performance and assured.
“Every match was a great fight, but I’m in the semifinals, and that’s great,” he concluded. EFE
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