"Feels like a crime" - Andy Roddick bemoans Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev meeting in US Open QF amid 'annihilated' men's draw
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are set to lock horns in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at the 2024 US Open, much to the disappointment of Andy Roddick. Given that Sinner and Medvedev are the only remaining Grand Slam champions and the strongest title favorites left in the draw, the excitement for their meeting has been tinged with dismay as one of them will be knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Medvedev, who is on the hunt for his second US Open title, advanced to the final eight with a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 win over Nuno Borges in the fourth round. Sinner joined the World No. 5 in the quarterfinals by beating Tommy Paul 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1. Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper are poised to battle it out in the other quarterfinal clash at the New York Major.
During a recent episode of the 'Served with Andy Roddick' podcast, recorded before Jannik Sinner and Paul's fourth-round clash, Roddick emphasized that the prospect of the match winner facing Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals "feels like a crime."
With both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic suffering early exits at the US Open, Roddick asserted that despite the great players still in contention for the title, the men's draw had been "annihilated."
"As we're talking through the draw, Tommy Paul and Jannik Sinner to play Medvedev feels like a crime based on how open the rest of the draw is now," Roddick said.
"Like, those are three very in-form players but that 'Sinner Sinner Chicken Dinner' and Medvedev quarter that we were all looking at before the tournament started is still alive and well. And the rest of the draw is just, all great players, there's no disrespect and everyone's bracket got absolutely annihilated," he added.
"It's going to be a physical match, also a mental match" - Jannik Sinner looks ahead to 'tough' US Open QF against Daniil Medvedev
Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev's quarterfinal clash at the 2024 US Open will mark their 13th tour-level meeting, with the Russian holding a 7-5 lead in their head-to-head record. However, their Grand Slam encounters this season have been evenly split, as the World No. 1 triumphed in the Australian Open final while Medvedev emerged victorious in their Wimbledon quarterfinal clash.
Given their closely contested rivalry, Sinner disclosed that he is expecting a "tough" match against the World No. 5, both mentally and physically.
"Tough match. It's going to be a lot of rallies, so hopefully I'll be ready physically. It's going to be a physical match, also a mental match. I won in Australia, he then won in Wimbledon. That was five sets. So hopefully it's going to be a good match. We'll try to do our best on court, hopefully you guys enjoy the next one and then we'll see how it goes," Jannik Sinner told the press.
If Jannik Sinner triumphs over Daniil Medvedev, he will face the match winner between Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper in the semifinals of the New York Major, followed by a title clash against Frances Tiafoe or Taylor Fritz.