Jannik Sinner expects ‘very tough’ semi-final with ‘good friend’ Jack Draper after overcoming Daniil Medvedev

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner overcame a "tough" four-set encounter against fellow Grand Slam champion Daniil Medvedev to progress to the US Open semi-finals 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4. Momentum swung both ways in a topsy-turvy rematch of the Australian Open final but Sinner was able to pull ahead at crucial stages to set up a semi-final against friend and sometime doubles partner, Britain's Jack Draper.

Sinner and Pegula reach their first US Open semi-finals

Video credit: SNTV

Jannik Sinner underscored his title credentials as he overwhelmed former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 6-2 1-6 6-1 6-4 in their highly-anticipated semi-final.

They were the only two Grand Slam champions left in the draw after the surprise exits of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, and had met in dramatic five-set clashes at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon earlier this year, sharing one victory apiece.

But this was overall a lower-quality affair as both players struggled to find their best level until Sinner moved into a higher gear in the third and final sets.

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The world No. 1 took two hours and 39 minutes to break down Medvedev, who won the title at Flushing Meadows in 2021 and lost the final in 2019 and last year.

Victory for the Italian means he has now reached the semi-finals of three of the four majors this year, and has become only the fourth active player after Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic to make the last four at all four tournaments in his career.

Sinner will face friend and occasional doubles partner Jack Draper in the semi-final, after the British No. 1 brushed aside 10th seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 7-5 6-2 in their quarter-final earlier on Arthur Ashe.

"We know each other quite well, we are good friends off the court," the Italian said of his next opponent. "It's going to be very tough, he hasn't lost one set, he's playing great, serving great. I'm just happy to be in the semis."

The two played doubles together in the Canadian Open, and he described it as a "great friendship," although "we try to put this away for the hours we are on court".

On his win over Medvedev, who he defeated from two sets to love down in the Australian Open final, he said: "Tough match, obviously. Starting a break up in the first and third helps with the confidence, it helped me mentally to stay there in every moment.

"I'm happy how I handled the situation, it's very tough against him. I think it was a great match from both sides. The fourth set was very tough."

'I was doing the right things' - Medvedev on 'tough loss' to Sinner in US Open

Video credit: SNTV

It was a topsy-turvy encounter, with the fourth set proving the most competitive but both players lacking intensity at different times.

Medvedev was immediately under pressure on serve, saving a break point in the first game of the match before being broken to love later in the set.

But momentum swung the other way in the second set as the Russian fifth seed drew Sinner into long, attritional rallies and broke twice, once after a 10-minute game as he forced his opponent into errors.

Sinner responded positively to losing his one-set advantage and began to pull away in the third, only dropping one game and continuing to put pressure on the Medvedev serve.

The six-time major finalist left the court to regroup but his problems on serve continued. Although he held off an early break in the fourth set, Sinner eventually secured the breakthrough to lead 4-3.

Despite a spirited fightback it was the end of the road for the Russian as the world No. 1 sealed victory on his second match point, unleashing a trademark forehand winner.

Daniil Medvedev looks nonplussed in his US Open quarter-final against Jannik Sinner.

Image credit: Getty Images

Sinner's victory means the US Open is guaranteed a first-time winner, with Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe to do battle in the other semi-final.

But Sinner is the heavy favourite for the title, as the only player left with the experience of a major final and having won the Australian Open, also on hard courts, in January.

The Italian has only lost two matches on the surface this season and has won four titles, including at the Cincinnati Masters in August.

He entered the year's final major under something of a cloud, with his Cincinnati title coming days after being cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency for what was judged to be the accidental ingestion of a banned substance.

But a series of composed performances in New York, even when not playing at his highest level, mean the Italian is still on track to secure his second Grand Slam title and evenly split the major honours this year with rival Alcaraz.

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