As the climax of the US Open 2023 looms closer, world number three Daniil Medvedev gears up for a riveting rematch against the tennis titan, Novak Djokovic. Medvedev, having clinched a spot in his third US Open final, reflects on the daunting challenge ahead.
Fresh from a hard-fought victory against reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz, Medvedev is aware of the monumental effort required to topple Djokovic. Recalling their iconic clash in the 2021 US Open, Medvedev mentioned, "Last time, to defeat Djokovic, I played better than myself. I'll have to channel that same spirit on Sunday."
It was in that 2021 final that Medvedev claimed a straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, securing his inaugural Grand Slam title.
"The challenge is to play a guy who won 23 Grand Slams and I have only one. When I beat him here, I managed to play better than myself and I need to do it again. There is no other way," said Medvedev.
The semi-finals saw Medvedev triumph over Alcaraz with a score of 7-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. This victory wasn't just a ticket to the finals but also an opportunity for the Russian maestro to even the score. Earlier this year, the young Spaniard, Alcaraz, halted Medvedev's journey in the Wimbledon semi-finals. Their face-off at the US Open has brought parity to their individual head-to-head record. Medvedev couldn't help but admire Alcaraz, labeling him "unbelievable" for showcasing such a stellar performance at his age.
"I said I needed to play 11 out of 10. I played 12 out of 10, except the third set. That's the only way. I don't know if he's still 20 or 21, but [he is] so young, already two Grand Slams, World No. 1 for many weeks. It's honestly just pretty unbelievable and I think nobody has done it before him. To beat him, you need to be better than yourself and I managed to do it," Medvedev added.
The US Open 2023 final promises a repeat of the captivating 2021 summit clash. With both players in scintillating form, the tennis world eagerly awaits to see if Medvedev can once again rise above himself and recreate the magic of 2021.
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