“Sinner Shocks Medvedev in Epic US Open Clash, Pegula Dethrones Swiatek in Stunning Upset!”

Jannik Sinner moved closer to claiming his second Grand Slam title of 2024 by reaching his first-ever US Open semi-final on Wednesday, defeating 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. Sinner, the top seed, will face 25th-ranked Jack Draper, who also made his first Slam semi-final with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Alex de Minaur. At 23, Sinner is the only top-10 player to reach the men’s semi-finals, while 12th-seeded Taylor Fritz will take on compatriot Frances Tiafoe, ranked 20th, in the other semi-final match on Friday.

In the women’s competition, sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula advanced to her first Grand Slam semi-final by upsetting world number one Iga Swiatek 6-2, 6-4. Pegula will next face Karolina Muchova, who defeated Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-4. Meanwhile, Emma Navarro of the US will battle world number two and Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka in the other semi-final.

Reflecting on his match, Sinner acknowledged the physical challenge: “It was very tough, I knew it would be very physical. It was strange in the first two sets; whoever got the break started to roll.” Medvedev struggled with 57 unforced errors and failed to save 10 of 15 break points, denying him a 10th Grand Slam semi-final appearance. On the other hand, Draper secured his spot in the semis despite requiring a medical timeout to bandage his right thigh early in the second set. “It’s amazing. My first time on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it means the world to me,” Draper said. He became the first British man to reach the US Open semi-finals since Andy Murray’s title win 12 years ago and has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Pegula’s semi-final berth marks her first after several close calls, having lost in six previous quarter-finals at the majors. “Finally I can say I’m a semi-finalist. I lost so many of these damn things,” said Pegula, after securing her fourth career win over Swiatek. Pegula has now won 14 of her last 15 matches on US hard courts this summer. Swiatek’s 41 unforced errors contributed to her loss, capping off a mixed Grand Slam season where she won her fourth French Open but faced earlier exits at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Muchova’s semi-final journey was not without drama, as she had to make a quick bathroom dash early in the second set, refusing to elaborate on the incident afterward. Her victory over Haddad Maia continued her comeback after a wrist injury kept her out until June this year. Muchova, a former world number eight, has yet to drop a set in the tournament, taking out major contenders such as two-time champion Naomi Osaka and French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.