(VIDEO) Jannik Sinner defeats Daniil Medvedev to reach first US Open semifinal

WHAT HAPPENED: In their third Grand Slam meeting of the season, Jannik Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev to advance to his first US Open semifinal. The Italian’s 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory completed his box set of Grand Slam semifinals, with the reigning Australian Open champion now having reached that stage at all four majors.

“It was very tough. We know each other quite well,” Sinner said after his seventh meeting with Medvedev in 12 months. “We played in Australia this year and then London. We knew it was going to be very physical. It was strange the first two sets because whoever made the first break then started to roll.”

A Wednesday evening match that began with little rhythm throughout three lopsided sets saw its most competitive frame in the fourth. Sinner fought off two break points at 2-3 in the final set before earning the decisive break on an 18-ball rally in the ensuing game—courtesy of one of Medvedev’s 57 unforced errors.

After winning all eight of his net points in the second set, Medvedev was again quick to move forward in set four. But this time he won just three of his nine approaches, with Sinner supplying all the answers from the backcourt. One of those three fruitful forays came when Medvedev fought off a match point with a volley winner, before he urged the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd to make noise as he walked to his chair down 5-4.

Medvedev dug in for his last-gasp return game and forced Sinner into three lengthy rallies to start his bid to serve out the match. But from 0-15, Sinner won the final four points to break new ground in New York.

Sinner was also eager to attack Medvedev from the frontcourt, doing so with more frequency and efficiency than his fifth-seeded opponent. He was a masterful 28-of-33 in his net approaches as he picked his spots to pick on Medvedev’s deep court positioning.

“We tried to work really hard on this aspect of the game,” said Sinner, who also saw success with well-timed drop shots. “I know I can improve a lot, especially going to the net. I tried to serve-and-volley a couple of times, trying to mix something in. I’m very happy with how I’ve done it today and let’s see how I can handle the next opponent.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Sinner is now the fourth active player to have reached the semifinals at all four Grand Slams. He joins Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Marin Cilic on that exclusive list. His campaign to join that trio as a US Open champion will continue on Friday against first-time major semifinalist Jack Draper, his friend and recent doubles partner in Montreal.

After an 0-6 start in his head-to-head with Medvedev, Sinner has now closed the gap to 6-7. The Italian won five straight matchups in the series, including in the Australian Open final and the Miami semis this year, before Medvedev’s victory in the Wimbledon quarters.

As the lone major finalist remaining in the men’s singles draw (Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will contest the opposite semifinal), Sinner is a firm favorite to win the second major crown of both this season and his career. His leading marks of 33 hard-court wins and 21 major victories this season—both tops among men—make him the player to beat among the final four.

MATCH POINT: Sinner is the third Italian man to reach US Open semifinals in Open Era after Corrado Barazzutti (1977) and Matteo Berrettini (2019).