Daniil Medvedev solves Carlos Alcaraz, sets Novak Djokovic rematch in US Open final

To get there, Medvedev had to exorcize some emotional baggage in Queens as he faced down Alcaraz—the player who has had his number all year long. Coming into their semifinal meeting, Medvedev had been unable to take a set off the Spaniard in either of their previous two matches this year, including a lopsided 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 defeat at Wimbledon.

The No. 3 seed has been asked by press about Alcaraz nonstop since he first touched down in the city—either about their potential rematch, or about the possible US Open final between him and Djokovic. He said he didn’t mind those questions, but issued an ominous warning to anyone who dared write him out of the conversation altogether:

“Everyone is talking about an Alcaraz vs. Djokovic final, that doesn’t irritate me at all. Their matches are great for tennis,” Medvedev acknowledged during a pre-tournament press conference.

“I do think we [should] still talk about me. The goal is, after this US Open, that we talk about me.”

More to follow…