US Open 2023: Medvedev and Rublev set aside camaraderie to vie for semi-final berth

Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev Face Off in US Open Quarter-Finals

In a surprising turn of events at the US Open, childhood friends Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev find themselves on opposite sides of the court as they compete for a spot in the semi-finals. The Russian tennis stars have always considered each other “family,” with Medvedev even asking Rublev to be the godfather of his daughter.

Despite their close bond off-court, both players are determined to give it their all during this intense match-up. However, Medvedev emphasizes that no matter what happens on the court, their friendship remains unbreakable in real life.

The quarter-final clash between Medvedev and Rublev will take place on Wednesday evening at Arthur Ashe Stadium, starting not before 18:30 BST.

A Battle Between Tennis Competitors Turned Family Members

This quarter-final encounter holds great significance for both players. While Medvedev has already reached the final in New York back in 2019 and clinched the championship title two years later, Rublev is still chasing his first-ever major semi-final appearance.

Rublev describes his relationship with Medvedev as something beyond just tennis; it’s like family. They have known each other since they were six years old and have grown together both personally and professionally. He praises Medvedev’s honesty, relaxed nature, sense of humor which makes spending time with him enjoyable.

Defending Champion Alcaraz and Zverev Prepare for a Thrilling Match

The defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, is set to face German 12th seed Alexander Zverev in what promises to be an exciting match. The young Spaniard has been exceptional throughout the tournament, dropping only one set in his previous four matches. On the other side of the net, Zverev affirmed that he’s back on top form after overcoming a tough challenge posed by Italian sixth seed Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

A potential rematch between Alcaraz and Djokovic, who won this year’s Wimbledon final, could also occur if they both advance further. Their previous encounter took place amidst scorching temperatures during a heatwave in New York. As Wednesday’s weather forecast predicts temperatures reaching up to 35C once again, spectators can expect some heated battles on the court.

Sabalenka Aims for Second Major Title as Top-seed

In women’s quarter-finals action at the US Open, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka continues her pursuit of securing a second major title this year. Her path cleared when Iga Swiatek suffered a defeat against Jelena Ostapenko in their last-16 clash on Sunday. Consequently,Sabalenka is guaranteed to replace Swiatek as the top-ranked female player post-tournament.

Although she acknowledges this achievement with mixed emotions since she had hoped to battle it out with Swiatek for the top ranking spot,she expresses happiness while recognizing her consistent performances throughout the year which put pressure on her opponents.

Vondrousova Seeks Another Semi-Final Spot; Keys Aims High

Czech ninth seed Marketa Vondrousova hopes to replicate her previous major quarter-final successes as she faces American 17th seed Madison Keys. Vondrousova previously reached the final at the French Open in 2019 and emerged victorious at Wimbledon this year, adding to the intrigue surrounding their upcoming match.

Keys, a finalist in the US Open back in 2017, is eager to join her compatriot Coco Gauff in securing a spot in the semi-finals on home soil.