Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

US Open 2021: Dan Evans loses to Daniil Medvedev in fourth round

Written by 
Published in Tennis
Sunday, 05 September 2021 14:09

Britain's Dan Evans says he "got a good, healthy lesson" after being outclassed by second seed Daniil Medvedev in the US Open last 16.

Evans, seeking to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final, lost 6-3 6-4 6-3 to the Russian 2019 runner-up.

Medvedev, 25, has not dropped a set at this tournament and the British number one never got close to changing that under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"He was a different level to me today," Evans, 31, said.

Asked what he had learned from the encounter, the Briton replied with a smile: "You're looking at the draw hoping he's nowhere near me for the rest of my days."

World number two Medvedev will play qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp for a place in the semi-finals after the Dutchman stunned 11th seed Diego Schwartzman.

Evans beaten but takes home positives

By reaching the fourth round in New York, 31-year-old Evans had matched his previous best Grand Slam performance and is set to reach a career-high ranking inside the world's top 25 when the list is next published after the US Open.

After some disappointing results at the other three Grand Slams of the year, losing in the first round at the Australian and French Opens and the third round at Wimbledon, and having missed the Tokyo Olympics because he contracted Covid-19, this tournament has been uplifting for both him and British tennis fans.

"It's a good week. It was difficult - some difficult matches," he said. "But it was a solid, solid week. [I am] happy with how I dealt with the conditions. The whole trip in itself was difficult. I played my best tennis this week, which is pleasing."

In the previous round he had to fight back from two sets down to beat Alexei Popyrin and against Medvedev he once again showed glimpses of his grit.

Facing set point on his serve at 5-2 in the opener, Evans saved it with a wonderful point where he hit an angled volley at the net before rushing back to successfully unleash a smash that meant he forced Medvedev to serve out the set.

But the Briton was then broken to love in the first game of the second to give the Russian an early advantage that he never looked like relinquishing.

Evans was in danger of letting the Russian go a double break up for 3-0 but fought back from 15-40 down to stay in touch and then got a break back for 3-3.

But he immediately found himself behind again after two double faults contributed to a soft break of his serve. Medvedev wasted no time in making the break count as he eventually went on to serve out the set with a rapid game that included two aces and one unreturnable second serve.

Evans put up little resistance in the third as Medvedev broke early and then again to love to wrap up a clinical victory in a swift one hour and 45 minutes.

Evans will now head to tournaments in San Diego and Indian Wells and although he said he was not focused on rankings, he admitted he would "love to be in that bracket" of the world's top 20 by the end of the season.

"For sure I need some rest," he said. "To move in the direction I want to be moving, there's some more hard work left this year.

"I'll see how the next few days look. [I'm] nursing a bit of soreness," added Evans, who retired from the doubles as a precaution before his third-round singles match. "See how long that takes, then move on from there."

Medvedev marches on

The early exits of leading players including third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, fifth seed Andrey Rublev and eighth seed Casper Ruud has opened up this half of the draw for Medvedev, who is seeking a maiden Grand Slam title.

Having not lost more than four games in a set at the tournament, he is displaying why he has been hotly tipped to be the man who could derail Novak Djokovic's bid for a calendar Grand Slam.

Medvedev was imperious on serve, hammering down 13 aces and winning 84% of first-serve points, but it was one of his service returns that he dubbed "the best shot of the match".

He was in fact so impressed with the shot - a stunning round-the-net forehand return that kissed the line - that he gestured for the crowd to make more noise in appreciation for it at the time.

There were plenty of other instances when there was no need to ask for admiration as the Russian unleashed 43 winners in a devastating performance.

Medvedev is clear with his aims in New York, where he is seeking to shake off the disappointment of a quarter-final defeat at the Olympics last month by improving on being runner-up to Rafael Nadal here two years ago.

"I just want to make it to the final again to make some more memories - and hopefully a better one [this time]," said Medvedev, who lost in five sets to the Spanish 20-time Grand Slam champion in that final.

Read 273 times

Soccer

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

Liverpool player ratings: Salah stars in comeback win at Southampton

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool fought back from 2-1 down on Sunday to secure a 3-2 victo...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated