While the media focus was heavily on Alcaraz and Djokovic leading up to the final Grand Slam of the year, Daniil Medvedev flew largely under the radar. That changed quickly on Tuesday when the third seed cruised into the second round at Flushing Meadows, obliterating Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0. This effortless win serves as a warning that the former champion is still very much in the hunt for another title in New York.
Former champion Daniil Medvedev was the forgotten man heading into the U.S. Open, but the third-seeded Russian popped up on everyone’s radar after crushing Attila Balazs 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 and storming into the second round at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday. With world no.1 and no.2 Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic grabbing the spotlight in the run-up to the season’s last Grand Slam, Medvedev had mostly gone unnoticed. But, with his methodical dissection of Balazs, he made it clear that he is still a legitimate contender for his second US Open title in three years.
Attila Balazs, who spent time coaching after a brief retirement in 2014 before returning to the pro circuit in 2016, found himself completely outclassed. Medvedev dictated the tempo from the very first point, breaking the Hungarian's serve immediately in all three sets.
With 41 winners to his name, Medvedev looked like he could break Balazs whenever he pleased, while the Hungarian struggled to find any rhythm, failing to even create a break opportunity. Balazs did manage one highlight: down 5-0 in the final set, he chased down a difficult ball and ripped a cross-court winner. The shot was so clean that Medvedev applauded him, and the spectators erupted as Balazs celebrated the rare moment of success.
Medvedev closed out the fourth game with a precise ace and a sharp forehand winner to lead 5-0. In the final game, he pushed for the 'bagel' and the win, ultimately securing his spot in the next round with a smooth serve-and-volley play. It was a swift conclusion to the match, setting up a second-round clash between the Russian and Australia's Christopher O’Connell.
Since his semi-final loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon, Medvedev has kept a relatively low profile during his U.S. Open prep, with modest runs to the quarter-finals in Canada and the round of 16 in Cincinnati. Despite this, New York has historically been his strongest arena, evidenced by his 2019 final appearance, a semi-final run in 2020, and his championship victory in 2021.
Reflecting on his status compared to the top two, Medvedev noted that it's only natural for Carlos and Novak to be the center of attention. Following his dominant win, he emphasized that his sole focus is to maintain a high level of play and compete for the title, regardless of the hype surrounding others.