Félix Auger-Aliassime v Daniil Medvedev: US Open semi-final – live!

For all the talk about Djokovic’s rare air, Medvedev finds himself on the verge of some interesting history as well. Should he win Sunday’s final in straight sets, Medvedev will become only the second US Open men’s champion since Ivan Lendl in 1987 to drop only one set en route to the final.

The last US Open men’s champion to win it without dropping a set? That would be Neale Fraser back in 1960, nearly a decade before the majors allowed professionals to compete with amateurs.

“I don’t think I played my best today, but I’m really happy to be in the final on Sunday,” says Medvedev in his on-court interview. “He had two set points (in the second set) so the only thing I was thinking is, ‘Don’t make an ace on the line, please.’”

Asked about his 2019 US Open final, where he pushed Rafael Nadal to the limit in a five-set thriller, Medvedev says: “Last time it was a crazy match. If it is going to be the same match on Sunday, I just hope I can win this time.”

Third set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 2-6 Medvedev

Medvedev races out to 40-15 and a pair of match points. He wastes the first after netting a forehand from he middle of the ccourt, but smashes home an overhead on the second that Auger-Aliassime can hardly get a racket on to close the show after 2hr 4min!

Third set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 2-5 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime goes love-15 down on his serve with his 10th double fault of the afternoon, then 15-30 when Medvedev crushes a blistering forehand passing winner. The Russian is two points from the finish line. But Auger-Aliassime is able to hold from there and Medvedev will be made to serve it out for a spot in the final after the change of ends.

Third set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-5 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev races out to 40-love before holding comfortabaly and Auger-Aliassime will serve to stay in the tournament.

Medvedev breaks in fifth game of third set!

Third set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-4 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Medvedev, promptly and ruthlessly, breaks Auger-Aliassime’s serve at love. He’s won four straight games and eight of nine points on the Canadian’s serve. The volume level on Ashe has accordingly gone from church to morgue.

Third set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev double-faults for love-15 on his serve, then against for 15-30, then watches Auger-Aliassime hit a forehand winner at the net for 30-40 and break point. But Medvedev slams the door on any thoughts of a fightback, at least for now, consolidating the break with consecutive unreturnable serves down the middle of 121mph and 127mph followed by a 125mph service winner out wide on game point. Just wow.

Medvedev breaks in third game of third set!

Third set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

It’s getting late early for the Auger-Aliassime. He makes three unforced errors off the forehand side to go double break point down at 15-40, then a fourth to gift Medvedev the early break in the third.

Third set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev cruises to the love hold. He’s won 16 of the last 18 points on his serve.

Third set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7, 1-0 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime needs to put the disappointment of a come-from-ahead second set that spanned nearly a full hour behind him and he’s off to a good start, he’s off to a rocky start in his opening service game of the third. After running out to 40-15, he makes ninth double fault followed by a backhand unforced error for deuce. From there he’s bailed out by Medvedev, who chips in back-to-back unforced errors off the backhand side.

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-7 Medvedev

Medvedev breezes to the business-like hold to nail down the second set, pounding a 128mph ace down the middle on set point.

Medvedev breaks in 11th game of second set!

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-6 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

A dangerous moment for Auger-Aliassime, who follows a forehand unforced error with a double fault to go love-30 down on his serve. Then a hush falls on Ashe as Auger-Aliassime goes down love-40 and triple break point. Another unforced error completes a disastrous service game for Auger-Aliassime, whose broken at love only minutes after serving for the second set. Medvedev to serve for a two-sets-to-none lead after the changeover.

Second set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-5 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime looked winded during that changeover and who could blame him after those rallies of 14, 15 and 14 shots in three of the last five points. Meanwhile, Medvedev calmly holds from love-15 down to back up the break for 5-all in the second. And absolutely massive service game forthcoming for Auger-Aliassime after spitting the bit on those set points in his previous one.

Medvedev breaks in ninth game of second set!

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-4 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Medvedev pushes it to 30-all from 30-love on Auger-Aliassime’s serve. Auger-Aliassime responds with a forehand passing winner for set point, but Medvedev gets the best of a 14-shot rally from the baseline to save it for deuce. Another lengthy rally breaks out, this one 15 shots, before Medvedev sends a forehand flying past the baseline for a second set point. And Auger-Aliassime squanders it when he puts a forehand volley into the net on a serve-and-volley. Another long baseline rally follows and Auger-Aliassime tries a drop shot from the baseline that Medvedev pounces on for a forehand winner and break point. And Auger-Aliassime sprays a backhand from the baseline to give Medvedev the break. They’re back on serve in the second. What a turnaround!

Second set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev holds comfortably from love-15 down but Auger-Aliassime will now step up to serve for the second set.

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 5-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime backs up the break emphatically with a staccato love hold. Medvedev to serve to stay in the set after the changeover.

Auger-Aliassime breaks in sixth game of second set!

Second set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 4-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime wins two quick points from 40-15 to get to deuce on a Medvedev service game for only the second time today, then ignites the crowd with a backhand passing shot winner punctuated by a big fist pump for his first break-point chance of the afternoon. Medvedev saves it, winning a baseline exchange with a forehand winner. But Auger-Aliassime then outlasts Medvedev over a grueling 20-shot rally for a second break point and … and Medvedev double-faults for only the first time today to give the break to Auger-Aliassime, who very clearly has the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd behind him!

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 3-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Another precarious service game for Auger-Aliassime, who double-faults for deuce after winning three of the first four points. But he closes it out with a forehand volley winner followed by a forehand passing winner after both come to net.

Second set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 2-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev breezes through another service game, punctuating a love hold with a 127mph service winner.

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 2-1 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime races out to 40-love before netting a slice backhand early in a baseline rally. He then mixes in a fifth double fault of the match for 40-30, but is bailed out when Medvedev overcooks a backhand on the next point before things can get too complicated.

Second set: *Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime pushes Medvedev to deuce on his serve but the Russian pounds a 126mph ace down the middle and a 121mph service winner out wide to escape with the hold. Medvedev has been lights-out on his serve today, getting 27 of 33 first serves in (82%) and winning 21 of 27 first-serve points (78%).

Second set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 1-0 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

A straightforward hold for Auger-Aliassime to open the second set.

First set: Auger-Aliassime 4-6 Medvedev

Medvedev mishits a forehand and Auger-Aliassime follows with a crisp backhand winner for love-30. An opening for the Canadian to get back on serve in this first set. But Medvedev goes 128mph ace down the middle, 123mph unreturnable, 128mph first serve leading to an early FAA unforced error and 128mph ace out wide to hold emphatically and close out the first set in 38 minutes.

First set: Auger-Aliassime 4-5 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime rights the ship after his two-game wobble, cracking three aces to hold from in front. But that break may well hold up as Medvedev will serve for the opening set after the change of ends.

First set: *Auger-Aliassime 3-5 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev holds at love to back up the break, pounding his third and fourth aces along the way. The wheels have come off a bit for Auger-Aliassime, who’s lost eight points on the trot. Auger-Aliassime to serve to stay in the first set.

Medvedev breaks in seventh game of first set!

First set: Auger-Aliassime 3-4 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

A couple of loose forehands by Auger-Aliassime and he’s quickly down love-30 on his serve. Medvedev then rips a forehand that Auger-Aliassime can’t get back into play for love-40 and triple break point, the first break chance for either player on the day. And Medvedev needs only one of them, outlasting Auger-Aliassime over a 12-shot exchange to break at love and draw first blood in this opening set.

First set: *Auger-Aliassime 3-3 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev blinks first at the end of a 14-shot exchange, the longest of the day so far, to fall behind on his serve for the first time at love-15. But he rattles off four very quick points from there – a 125mph service winner, a 126mph first serve to set up an early forehand winner, a 77mph second-serve unreturnable and a 116mph ace out wide – to hold comfortably.

First set: Auger-Aliassime 3-2 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Auger-Aliassime holds easily in his sturdiest service game yet, getting all five first serves in including a 127mph service winner and a 120mph unreturnable on game point.

First set: *Auger-Aliassime 2-2 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev coasts to another stress-free hold, cracking three winners including a 106mph ace out wide along the way.

First set: Auger-Aliassime 2-1 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

Medvedev pushes Auger-Aliassime a bit on his serve, getting it to 30-all after settling a 12-shot rally with a big overhand winner. But the Canadian rattles off two quick points from there, nailing down the hold with his fourth winner of the day.

First set: *Auger-Aliassime 1-1 Medvedev (*denotes next server)

Medvedev coasts through his opening service game, getting all but one first serve in and holding at love.

First set: Auger-Aliassime 1-0 Medvedev* (*denotes next server)

The conditions on court as 23C (74F) with a light wind, as cool as it’s felt on Ashe for a day session during this tournament. Auger-Aliassime is serving to start. He races out to 30-love, then 40-30, before double-faulting for deuce. He’s gotten only one of six first serves in so far. Auger-Aliassime follows with a forehand winner for game point then a second double fault for deuce. Tricky opening service game. But from there he rips a 126mph ace down the pipe followed by a crisp inside-out forehand that Medvedev can’t return into play to escape with the hold.

Not long ago on Ashe, Britain’s Joe Salisbury won the men’s doubles title alongside American Rajeev Ram. The fourth-seeded pair rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 over Jamie Murray and Brazil’s Bruno Suares in the first major doubles final of the professional era to feature British men on either side of the net.

The match was placed in the day session ahead of the first men’s singles semi-final between Auger-Aliassime and Medvedev, but tournament organisers permitted ticket-holders for the upper bowl to fill the courtside seats on Ashe, creating a livelier atmosphere than men’s doubles finals have seen in previous years.

Salisbury also plays his mixed doubles semi-final later today with the American Desirae Krawczyk. He is attempting to become the first man to win US Open men’s and mixed doubles titles in the same year since Bob Bryan in 2010.

“I think before we played, everyone was just feeling like it was great that there were two Brits in the final,” Salisbury said in his post-match presser moments ago. “Obviously there was going to be a British winner whatever happened.

“If we hadn’t won that, it had been them, I would be happy it was two great guys. I would have been really happy for them. Obviously be great, yeah, for British tennis to have a winner.”

Hello and welcome to Arthur Ashe Stadium for today’s first of two US Open men’s semi-finals between Félix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev. Auger-Aliassime, who on Tuesday became the first US Open men’s semi-finalist from Canada in the tournament’s 140-year history and the youngest man from any country to reach the last four since 20-year-old Juan Martín del Potro won the 2009 title, is bidding to become the second Canadian men’s singles finalist at a major since 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic. But he will have his hands full today with Medvedev, the in-form No 2 seed who won their only prior meeting at 2018 Toronto in a final-set tiebreaker that spoiled Auger-Aliassime’s 18th birthday.

The players should be on court for their warm-up in five minutes or so and we will pick it up with game-by-game coverage from there.

Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how the women’s final is shaping up:

There’s unexpected and there’s this: a US Open final between two teenagers ranked 73rd and 150th in the world.

That’s where things stand after Thursday’s extraordinary women’s semi-final twin bill at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the latest shocking development at the season-ending grand slam which, despite the absence of some of the sport’s brightest stars, continues to unfold in the most unpredictable of ways.

Thirty-eight months ago, Emma Raducanu and Leylah Annie Fernandez met in the second round of the Wimbledon girls’ singles. Now they will cross paths for the first time since then with all to play for in the world’s biggest tennis stadium: a $2.5m cheque and what surely will go down as the unlikeliest US Open championship on record – regardless of who wins.

Read the full article below: