Friday’s blockbuster US Open semi-finals are each a research in contrasts.
Within the characteristic night time match beneath lights, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz pits his explosive attacking recreation in opposition to the rock-solid defensive expertise of World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev as each chase a second title at Flushing Meadows.
However first on Arthur Ashe Stadium, 20-year-old American Ben Shelton, who’s competing in his first main semi-final, stakes his youth and devastating left-handed serve in opposition to the sport’s pre-eminent returner and Grand Slam titles file holder Novak Djokovic, 16 years his senior.
ATPTour.com seems to be forward to the intriguing battles.
[1] Carlos Alcaraz vs. [3] Daniil Medvedev
After Carlos Alcaraz exploited his deep-court returning place with a sequence of serve/volley performs and signature drop photographs within the Indian Wells closing in March, Daniil Medvedev was requested pre-tournament in Miami if he would stand nearer to return the subsequent time he performed the Spaniard. Not after one defeat, he responded. However possibly if the technique failed a number of occasions.
Medvedev additionally stood deep throughout their Wimbledon semi-final in July and once more paid the value. So will the 2021 US Open champion change up his beloved deep returning stance third time round this yr in Friday’s semi-finals at Flushing Meadows? Solely time will inform, however Medvedev’s return place will likely be an intriguing subplot of this battle.
However the place to face is hardly the one consideration Medvedev must weigh in opposition to the present World No. 1, who has received 24 of his previous 25 matches on the majors and who boasts an limitless repertoire with which to assault opponents.
“What makes him tough is simply that he has each shot. He has further energy [than] different gamers,” Medvedev mentioned of Alcaraz. “Many gamers, in all probability 97 per cent, it is robust for them to hit the ball by means of me, I am all the time there, all the time operating, all the time making an attempt to get it again. He can do it simply because he has this energy, we see 100 miles per hour forehand winners and stuff like this.
“He is good from forehand, backhand, he can slice, dropshot. So he has each shot within the recreation. However once more, tennis, you’ll be able to all the time beat gamers. Individuals beat Novak. Individuals even beat Rafa on clay, which is sort of unimaginable however some gamers do. It is the identical about Carlos.”
[ATP APP]
In distinction to Alcaraz’s big-and-bold type, Medvedev showcases his potential to enter a stone-cold lockdown mode, resembling a brick wall as he wears down opponents with all-court protection. The 27-year-old usually takes a deep return place, which Alcaraz could counter with ways resembling serve-and-volleying or implementing drop photographs to drive Medvedev ahead.
The 2021 US Open champion Medvedev will look to avenge his previous two encounters with Alcaraz, who cruised in straight units on this yr’s Wimbledon semi-finals and within the Indian Wells title match.
“Final matches that I performed in opposition to Daniil, I performed a tactical recreation completely,” mentioned Wimbledon champion Alcaraz. “I did fairly properly all of the issues that I needed to do in opposition to him, so I feel my recreation fits fairly properly in opposition to that kind of opponent like Daniil. So I’m going to attempt to do the identical issues that I did in Indian Wells and at Wimbledon and hopefully get the win [by playing] the identical stage that I performed in these matches.”
Following Medvedev’s quarter-final victory in opposition to longtime good friend Andrey Rublev, he graded his efficiency an ideal 10 out of 10. The third seed, who has tallied a season-leading 37 hard-court victories, said that he must discover a good greater stage to achieve his fifth main closing.
“It must be 11 out of 10 as a result of that is how Carlos is, very robust,” Medvedev mentioned. “Even right here I feel he misplaced one set however I watched some matches, generally on break factors he runs for the passing photographs. Unimaginable stuff.”
Novak Djokovic is one win from a record-extending tenth US Open closing. Credit score: Al Bello/Getty Pictures
Ben Shelton vs. [2] Novak Djokovic
On one aspect of the online you may have Goliath, the Serbian Djokovic in his forty seventh main semi-final. Throughout from him will likely be David, Shelton, who turned professional a yr in the past and has rapidly ascended to the Prime 20 of the Pepperstone ATP Stay Rankings.
Djokovic has lengthy been thought to be among the best returners within the sport. His proficiency in that side will likely be essential to deal with Shelton’s devastating serve of their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head assembly. The 20-year-old has struck serves as quick as 149 mph — twice in the identical recreation — this match.
“Ben has been serving some bombs this match,” Djokovic mentioned. “When his serve is on, he’s a really tough participant to play in opposition to, particularly as a result of he is lefty as properly.”
A 3-time US Open titlist, Djokovic is methodical in how he approaches every opponent. There isn’t any type of play the veteran has not encountered all through his 20-year profession. Aiming for a spot in his thirty sixth main closing, he can do harm together with his polished groundstrokes or play top-tier defence behind the baseline to spiral his opponent into unforced errors.
In the meantime, Shelton is a threat taker who will not be afraid to stay on the sting in massive moments, no higher instance than in his quarter-final in opposition to countryman Frances Tiafoe, in opposition to whom the 2022 NCAA singles champion would generally strike a monstrous second serve to not permit his opponent any probability behind his supply. Will Shelton preserve that very same fearlessness within the largest match of his life?
“Undoubtedly a troublesome problem,” Shelton mentioned of Djokovic. “I feel that everytime you play someone for the primary time and somebody who has been on this scenario so many occasions and are available out victorious so many occasions, that is at the back of your head. You simply understand how rock stable the man is and the way mentally robust, how bodily robust. In order that’s positively one thing that I’ve to recreation plan for.
“I additionally suppose that it is a bonus with my recreation type taking part in somebody who’s by no means performed me earlier than. I feel that I can carry some issues to the desk that possibly you do not see in your regular match that you simply play on the ATP Tour. So I am positively going to attempt to carry some issues to the desk which are completely different and hopefully disruptive on Friday.”
[BREAK POINT]
This fortnight is the primary time Shelton has reached the semi-finals of a tour-level occasion, and he’s accomplished so at his dwelling Slam. He’s the youngest American male to achieve the final 4 at Flushing Meadows since Michael Chang in 1992.
Djokovic has received 30 consecutive matches in opposition to Individuals, together with his final loss coming at Wimbledon in 2016 (l. Querrey). He’s additionally on a 10-match successful streak since his heartbreaking Wimbledon closing loss to Alcaraz. The 36-year-old is aiming to grow to be the oldest males’s champion on the US Open within the Open Period.
Did You Know?
Djokovic is one win away from reaching the ultimate in any respect 4 majors in the identical yr for the third time in his profession (2015, ’21). He’s additionally making an attempt to win three Slams in the identical yr for the fourth time (2011, ’15, ’21).
from Tennis – ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/jXySGWg