Daniil Medvedev issued a chilling warning as he battled the weather and Andrey Rublev to attain the US Open semi-final.
The third seed booked his place with a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win towards eighth seed and childhood pal Andrey Rublev and can now play Carlos Alcaraz.
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Getty
However, the match was considerably overshadowed by the acute conditions at Flushing Meadows, with each players trying visibly fatigued.
And it was late within the third set when Medvedev, who referred to as the coach twice for an bronchial asthma pump, made a chilling prediction to a courtside digicam.
“You cannot imagine. One player is gonna die, and they’re gonna see,” he was heard saying.
Arthur Ashe Stadium, the place the quarter-final conflict was performed, had its roof closed with temperatures reaching as excessive as 34C. It’s understood humidity reached over 50 per cent on Tuesday.
Asked about how laborious it was to play within the excessive conditions, Medvedev stated it was one of many worst he’s ever skilled and even struggled to see the ball at factors.
“Yeah, this and Tokyo Olympic Games. It was brutal,” he stated in response to a query asking him if it was one of many worst conditions he’s ever performed in.
“The solely good factor I see from taking part in in these conditions is that each undergo. It’s powerful for each of us.
“There had been some ups and downs… actually on the finish of the primary set I type of couldn’t see the ball anymore.
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“I type of performed with sensations. I attempted to go for it, tried to run, tried to catch the balls and he did the identical generally.
“Before the point I was like, ‘wow, it seems like he cannot run anymore… we were tired all the time. Brutal conditions and super tough to play in.”
At one level, Medvedez stripped to his shorts throughout one break that noticed his opponent go and alter his garments.
Elsewhere, a fan collapsed within the stands throughout Madison Keys’ quarter-final win over Marketa Vondrousova, delaying the sport.
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The US Tennis Association, nonetheless, stated the fan was stabilised and the incident was linked to the person’s medical historical past, however not the warmth. “The fan was taken for further assessment on site and safely discharged,” it stated.
During the interruption, Keys supplied water and towels to a safety guard who in flip handed them on to the people aiding the stricken male fan.
The 2021 US Open champion will face defending champion Alcaraz within the remaining 4 sport on Friday after his win over Alexander Zverev.