Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev displayed his resilience and experience as he fought off a spirited challenge from 22-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli to advance to the fourth round of the US Open for the sixth consecutive year.
The Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd rallied behind Cobolli, who showcased his potential through a series of thrilling rallies. However, Medvedev’s exceptional defensive prowess and strategic play ultimately proved too much for the young Italian. The Russian, seeded 31st, elevated his game at crucial moments, denying Cobolli his first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance.
"It was a tough match," Medvedev acknowledged. "He was just a little bit up and down and at one point started playing much better on my serve than his, so a tricky match."
Medvedev sealed the match by winning the last three games, converting his second match point to secure the victory. Reflecting on the encounter, Medvedev remarked, "It was a fun match to play."
Looking ahead, Medvedev is set to face Portugal's Nuno Borges for a spot in the quarter-finals. The Russian previously defeated Borges at the same stage of the Australian Open this year. "He surprised me with how much power he has," Medvedev noted of Borges, adding that the Portuguese player’s aggressive style would make for another challenging match. Borges had earlier saved three match points in his victory over Jakub Mensik.
Medvedev, the only former champion left in the draw following the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, won the US Open in 2021, where he famously defeated Djokovic to prevent the Serbian from achieving a rare calendar Grand Slam. Despite reaching the final at the Australian Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon this year, Medvedev has not claimed a title since his victory at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome last May.
