An incredible opportunity awaits the men’s semifinalists at US Open 2020.
Dominic Thiem, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Pablo Carreno Busta all seek their first ever Grand Slam singles title – and for once, there are no members of the sport’s famed Big Three standing in their way.
Thiem and Medevdev clash in the heavyweight second semifinal, a match pitting the tournament’s second seed against its third seed.
The Austrian and the Russian trailed only Novak Djokovic on the list of favourites entering the event, and when the world No.1 exited in the fourth round, their title chances only improved further.
Medvedev came within a set of hoisting the silverware at Flushing Meadows last year, ultimately falling in a dramatic five-set final to Rafael Nadal.
He is yet to drop a set at this year’s Open, and acknowledges his chances against Thiem on a quick hard court.
“Dominic is a tough opponent to play, especially of course on clay. I got to feel it last year in the final of Barcelona,” said Medvedev, who won their most recent encounter on Montreal’s hard courts last year.
“On hard I think it's a little bit easier … When I say ‘easier’ he just made final of Australian Open. For me it will be easier for me to play him on hard courts than clay courts.
“The fact that I was already one time in US Open semifinal helps a lot. Same court, same conditions, no crowd. And I think it will help me a little bit.”
By contrast, this is the furthest Thiem has ever gone at the US Open, as he seeks a place in a fourth Grand Slam final.
He came incredibly close to winning his first major trophy in January when he pushed Djokovic to five compelling sets in the AO 2020 final.
“I would say that he comes very close to the big three players in terms that he can play his level, his top level, for doesn't matter how long, I mean, four, five, six hours,” said Thiem of Medvedev, against whom he leads 2-1 in the head-to-head series.
“That's going to be really, really difficult. But I'm looking forward to that one.
“I think it's going to be a big stage, even if it's without fans. It's going to be a great semifinals.”
Zverev v Carreno Busta
Prior to the Thiem-Medvedev clash will be the first semifinal, pitting fifth seed Alexander Zverev against Pablo Carreno Busta, the 20th seed who advanced in five sets over Denis Shapovalov.
Carreno Busta is through to his second US Open semifinal – the first came in 2017 – while Zverev is appearing in his second straight major semifinal, after reaching the same stage in Australia.
One of them will advance to a first career Grand Slam final.
“When I arrive to the quarterfinals in Roland Garros in 2017, was amazing. Then I made a semifinals here. It was unbelievable,” Carreno Busta said.
“If I can repeat it, if I be again in semifinals, is because I have the level.”
Like many tennis pundits and fans, Zverev keenly feels this unusual air of both opportunity and suspense hovering over the 2020 men’s event.
“I have just made back-to-back semis and I'm still in the tournament, so I'm not done yet. I still hope I can make it to the finals and then we'll see,” Zverev said after his four-set quarterfinal win over Borna Coric.
“We're going to have a new Grand Slam champion. This is the one thing that we know for sure.”