2019 US Open – Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Sunday 8th September, 2019 – not before 21:00 (UK)
Where is Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal taking place? Flushing Meadows, New York
What is the expected weather for Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal? Partly cloudy, 25c
What channel is Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal on? The US Open will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal? Amazon Prime have the rights to the US Open in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for streaming times
Where can I get tickets for Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal? https://www.usopen.org/en_US/tickets/ticket_plans.html
THE LOWDOWN
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last meeting: Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0
DANIIL MEDVEDEV
- Daniil Medvedev took his second straight-sets victory at the fifth time of asking after a first round sweep by beating an in-form Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals.
- The 23-year-old has the most wins on tour this year with 50, and will play the man second in that table with 46 Rafael Nadal for the second time in their career, less than a month since their first meeting in Montreal.
- Medvedev lost the Rogers Cup final last month to Rafael Nadal in disappointing fashion after such a commanding performance in the competition up to that point, but the Russian is 20-2 on hard courts since coming to North America, also losing the Citi Open final but winning in Cincinnati.
RAFAEL NADAL
- Rafael Nadal struggled to put away a powerful Matteo Berrettini in their first set but won the resulting tiebreak and then took the semi-final in straight-sets as the Italian tired.
- The world number two is through to his fifth US Open final and has lost just the once, in 2011 to Novak Djokovic, winning his three titles in 2010, 2013 and 2017.
- The Spaniard has lost to enough players this year to give Medvedev a real chance of winning his maiden Grand Slam title, with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini and Nick Kyrgios joining up with usual suspects Federer and Djokovic to make his six defeats in 2019.
THE PREDICTION
While many might be disappointed not to see Rafael Nadal take on either Novak Djokovic, or Roger Federer for the first time at Flushing Meadows, the world number two will face the tour’s most in-form player in Daniil Medvedev. The Russian looked in better shape against Dimitrov in their semi-final than he had in a few rounds and he will benefit from a straight-sets match and a day’s rest before the biggest match of his young career so far. In reaching the final Medvedev has proven himself to be the real deal, the stand-out star from the next generation suitors such as Tsitsipas and Zverev, and he has made amends for his on-court misbehaviour in the earlier rounds to earn himself some big support in this US Open crowd.
Nadal will likely never see as good an opportunity to win another US Open title as this, against a 23-year-old in his first Grand Slam final, but Medvedev’s style of play is as unpredictable as it is unnerving. Rafa’s rhythm could be upset by Medvedev’s incessant defence, and perhaps the Russian’s apparent complacency could irritate consummate professional Nadal, as Nick Kyrgios so often does. However, after such an inspiring US Open campaign, there is a real chance that Medvedev could lose this in straight sets to Rafa Nadal, like he did in Montreal last month. If this match is concluded in three, the Spaniard should be the one lifting the trophy, but any more than that and Medvedev’s confidence could grow into dominance. Essentially, Medvedev has the ability to outwit Nadal, if the three-time champion does not overpower him first. A prediction, though, will favour Nadal for his fourth title – but this has the feeling of changing of the guard about it, especially in the hard-court arenas.
