Medvedev backflips on infamous US Open clash

Daniil Medvedev made a surprising admission after overcoming a halt in play due to a fire alarm to beat Portuguese opponent Nuno Borges in under two hours at the US Open.

Medvedev was barely troubled against Borges and was up two sets to love when play was forced to stop at 2-1 in the third because of a fire alarm in the HawkEye booth.

The stoppage couldn’t have come at a worse time for Borges, with the Portuguese player grabbing a break the game prior, having lost 12 of the opening 13 games. The halt gave Medvedev a timely rest, and he broke back when play resumed and went on to grab the third to take it 6-0, 6-1, 6-3.

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While the fire alarm was an unusual occurrence that stopped play in all 15 matches, perhaps the more extraordinary aspect of the contest came during the on-court interview with Australian Nick Kyrgios, who has served as a commentator for ESPN during the tournament.

Medvedev’s volatile relationship with the New York crowd wasn’t tested against Borges like it was in during his run in 2019, two years before his only grand slam win at Flushing Meadows.

His third-round win over Feliciano Lopez will live in infamy, where he snatched a towel from a ball person, threw his racquet and showed the crowd his middle finger.

The match ended with Medvedev, arms raised amid a chorus of jeers, sarcastically thanking the crowd.

“The only thing I can say, the energy you’re giving me right now, guys, I think it will be enough for my next five matches. The more you do this, the more I will win, for you guys,” he said at the time.

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Medvedev has a love-hate relationship with crowds all over the world but not many have matched the ill will exhibited from New York fans during that run for the Russian star.

He eventually went down to Rafa Nadal in the final, pushing the match to five sets after losing the opening two, but he said his relationship with the crowd changed at that moment, as he heaped praise on New York fans.

“I love to play here, I love it. It was a crazy 2019 run. I was playing against Rafa you know,” he admitted to Kyrgios.

“To be honest wherever I played him the crowd was always with him. I played him once during COVID, there was nobody and still the crowd was for him.

“I was two sets to love down and then crowd was like we want to continue the match.

“That’s what happens when you’re two sets to love up the crowd always goes for the opponent.

“Maybe I should have lost in the beginning to try and get them behind me. No, But I love New York – my favourite tournament to play in, my favourite city.”

The fifth seed will meet the winner of the clash between top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Tommy Paul.

Briton Jack Draper progressed to his first US Open quarter-final, where he will face either Alex de Minaur or Jordan Thompson.

Draper defeated Tomas Machac 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour 44 minutes.

“I lost last year in the same round so it is nice to come back and go one better,” said Draper.

“I just need to keep going; I love playing here in New York, and I will just go through it again, I love playing on these big stages, I look forward to coming out again on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).”