Tennis
Daniil Medvedev will tackle the US Open title defense as number one. The 26-year-old Russian confirmed her top spot in the ATP rankings on Friday by reaching the final of the $920,625 250 hard court tournament in Los Cabos. He was recently banned from the major Wimbledon tournament because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
After defeating Miomir Kekmanovic (SRB) 7:6 (7/0) 6:1, he will take on British Cameron Nori in his first title fight of the season. It is the fourth final of the season for Medvedev, having lost the last three Australian Opens at Hartogenbosch and Halle. Nori won the second semi-final against Felix Auger-Aliasim 6:4 3:6 6:3.
At the ATP 500 tournament in Washington, which was taking place at the same time and concluded at $2,108,110, the event had only quarterfinal doubles. Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios showed good nerves when he scored at least five match points against American Frances Tiafoe in the second-set tie-break. The Australian eventually won 6:7 (5/7) 7:6 (14/12) 6:2.
US Open is coming to a close
In the semi-finals, Kyrgios now faces unseeded Swede Mikel Yammer, who defeated American Sebastian Korda 6:2 5:7 6:3. Top seed Russian Andrei Rubal and Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka face off in the second semi-final. Rublev gave no chance to local hero Jeffrey John in 6:2 6:3, Nishioka defeated No. 16 seeded Briton Daniel Evans 7:6 (7/5) 4:6 7:5.
The US Open begins on August 29. Apart from Serbia’s Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, who refuses the prescribed COVID 19 vaccinations in Canada and the United States and is therefore missing, there is also a question mark behind Spaniard Rafael Nadal’s presence. The reason for this is an injury to the abdominal muscles that made him lose before the Wimbledon semi-finals.
ATP 250 Tournament in Los Cabos
(Mexico, $920,625, Tough)
ATP 500 Tournament in Washington
(US, $2,108,110, hard court)
