Medvedev (2) came back from two sets to love down and defeated Auger-Aliassime (FAA) (9) in the first classic match of the tournament. Berrettini vs Alcaraz was a great match, but this match being in the quarters and Medvedev’s status in the game elevated it into classic status.
The second seed, in effect the top seed, came back from a match point down in the fourth set to take the match to a fifth. Medvedev got an early break in the fifth set, but the set remained competitive and in the final game, with Medvedev serving, FAA kept the pressure on with his impressive and committed ball striking and had a break point. After 4 hours and 45 minutes, an FAA error meant Medvedev was through to the semi finals.
Medvedev was too solid and FAA too raw. For Medvedev, it could be the match that shakes him up, helps him let go and gets him dialled in. He seems antsy with all the pressure. For FAA, it is the match which showed him what he might be capable of and gives him the confidence he needs to keep progressing.
The match was a fitting end to the men’s quarters. The round gave us two other five setters which followed the same pattern. Nadal held a two sets to love lead over Shapovalov before the Canadian leveled the match and took it into a fifth set. However, Nadal regrouped and took the fifth set. This pattern also played out in Berrettini’s defeat of Monfils.
The Nadal match will be mostly remembered for Shapovalov drawing attention to Nadal’s time management between points. Early in the second set, Shapovalov asked the umpire why he was not warning Nadal only for the umpire to ask him why he, himself, was wasting time. Shapovalov then called the game, essentially, ‘corrupt.’ Shapovalov channeled that anger in the right way, coming back as he did and leveling the match.
To add some variety to the round, we also were treated to Tsitsipas playing probably the best tennis of the tournament as he defeated Sinner for the loss of nine games. Seasoned players don’t like to peak too soon at a tournament, and it’s hard to see Tsitsipas surpassing that level.
In the women’s game, the quarter finals saw three straight setters. Keys upset Krejcikova (4), Barty (1) defeated Pegula and Collins (27) defeated Cornet. The women also delivered a nail biter- Swiatek coming back from a set down to beat Kiai Kanepi in close to three hours of play.
The semis are now set:
Women:
Barty vs Keys
Collins vs Swiatek
Some interesting contests here with similar storylines. The all rounder versus the big hitter. I feel anything could happen in either match. It’s going to depend on what the two ball strikers can bring and how much Barty and Swiatek are feeling the pressure.
Men:
Berrettini vs Nadal
Tsitsipas vs Medvedev.
This is a nice line up. Nadal and Medvedev have convincing match ups here. However, Nadal has struggled with the heat and Tsitsipas is playing with a lot more conviction than Medvedev.
thetennisreview 
Leave a comment