CNN
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Daniel Medvedev By defeating compatriot Andre Rublev US Open semi-final on Wednesday, but warned that a player “could die” in the “brutal” conditions at the tournament.
Medvedev won in straight sets over Rublev. Set6-4 6-3 6-4, but both players could be seen battling the heat inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, took two medical breaks during the match, both times using an inhaler to try to combat the side effects of the harsh conditions.
Both players continued to use towels throughout the match to deal with the high levels of sweat in the energy-sapping contest.
Midway through the third set, the 27-year-old Medvedev could be heard saying to the camera, “A player is going to die and you’re going to see.”
According to CNN’s weather team, temperatures at Flushing Meadows reached 93 degrees Fahrenheit during the match, with conditions feeling like 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The area remains under a heat advisory until Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. ET.
CNN has reached out to the US Open for comment on court conditions.
After the victory, Medvedev described the conditions as “brutal” and explained that he could not see the ball until the end of the first set.
“The only good thing I see in these situations is that both get hurt,” Medvedev said during his on-court interview. “It was tough for both of us. There were some ups and downs but that’s normal. At the end of the first set I kind of couldn’t see the ball. I was playing by feel.”
“I tried to go for him, tried to run and he did the same. Before the points I was like: ‘Wow, he can’t run anymore’, so I went and ran him and Tried to run, but he was there all the time. But we were tired all the time and extremely difficult to win.
In such grueling and humid conditions, it was Medvedev who was able to dig into the reserves of energy necessary to claim victory and make it to the semi-finals of the US Open.
There was little to separate the two Russians – who had already done so. Called Medvedev is “really close friends” with his daughter’s godfather Rublev himself – with long rallies and games that make it more difficult for the players on the court.
But as Rublev began to wilt, Medvedev was able to force enough errors to win in straight sets – epitomizing a monster final-game victory, which lasted more than 15 minutes before Medvedev took his compatriot’s lead. The side managed to force a final error on their fifth match point. Two hours and 48 minutes.
Battling the conditions and a tough opponent, Medvedev showed why he is a real contender for this year’s title, coming from a set down in every set in an impressive victory.
He will now face either Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev – the latter of whom plays on Wednesday – for a place in the final.