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Daniil Medvedev Felix Auger-Aliassime US Open 2021
Daniil Medvedev, Tennis News, US Open Tennis

US Open Preview: Can Felix Auger-Aliassime oust Daniil Medvedev for a maiden Slam final?


Felix Auger-Aliassime will be hoping to overcome 2019 finalist Daniil Medvedev to reach a first career Slam final in New York.

Medvedev has been here before, both at the Australian Open this year and the US Open in two years ago.

Auger-Aliassime is in uncharted territory, bettering his previous career-best Slam result by one step.

Here, Tennishead examines what you should know about the two men before they do battle in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

A lightly worn rivalry

Unlike the other semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, Auger-Aliassime and Medvedev have barely faced each other on the ATP tour.

They have only played on another once before, at the 2018 Canadian Masters in Toronto.

At that point, Medvedev was world number 68 with just 93 tour level matches to his name. Wildcard entry Auger-Aliassime was ranked at 133 in the world, with a measly 10 tour level encounters under his belt, having just turned 18.

The two men went toe-to-toe in the match, playing out a two hour and 40 minute three-setter, which Medvedev eventually won.

Route to the last four

Auger-Alissime has had a highly variable run to the semi-finals with a number of distinct results.

First, the Canadian defeated qualifiers Evgeny Donskoy and Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the first two rounds for the loss of a set.

Then, the 21-year-old outlasted veteran pro Roberto Bautista Agut in a five-setter, staving off a two sets to love comeback from the Spaniard.

In a battle of North American stars, Auger-Aliassime then dismissed Frances Tiafoe in four sets, before being handed a semi-final berth when Carlos Alcaraz retired from their quarter-final showdown.

Medvedev has had a far smoother ride to his fourth Slam semi-final. The Russian overcame Richard Gasquet, Dominik Koepfer, Pablo Andujar and Dan Evans all in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals.

Up against qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp, the world number two suffered his only lost set so far in the tournament, 6-4 in the third, before claiming victory.

Why not take a look ahead at the other men’s semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev?


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