By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday September 1, 2019
Daniil Medvedev told reporters before the tournament that he wasn’t ready to even think about winning a major title until he first reached a major quarterfinal.
Well, he’s there.
The World No.5 rallied past German qualifier Dominik Koepfer 3-6 6-3 6-2 7-6(5) on Louis Armstrong Stadium on Day Seven in New York, and will next face either Novak Djokovic or Stan Wawrinka for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Two days after Medvedev stirred the pot and flipped the bird to the fans after they booed him for angrily snatching a towel from the ballkids, Medvedev played the villain again. He was booed entering the court and the fans were firmly behind the German for most of the match. They chanted “Let’s Go Koepfer,” boisterously at times, but once Medvedev took control of the match he never let it slip, even as Koepfer pushed to make it close in the fourth set by breaking and leading 2-0.
“It was a goal to qualify,” Koepfer said. “I didn't expect to go into the fourth round. I just battled every round and started playing better and better every round. Found a way, I guess.”
In the end it seemed as if the fans have been warming up to Medvedev, but the Russian still thanked them in a strange post-match interview, for giving him the motivation to prove them wrong.
Medvedev proved to be too strong once again and he’ll look to continue his winning streak on Tuesday when he plays his first major quarterfinal. The ATP’s win leader took the title in Cincinnati, where he stunned Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and he has now won ten in a row.