Daniil Medvedev: Yes, swapping balls - but not at the US Open!
Daniil Medvedev will play against Stefan Kozlov in round one of the US Open 2022 today (from 6 p.m. live on TV and stream on Eurosport). Unlike Iga Swiatek, the Russian has no problems with the balls.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Aug 28, 2022, 07:28 pm
It is a well-known tradition at Wimbledon that the champions of the previous year open the game on Center Court. At the US Open, it's more of a tradition that the schedule is based on the wishes of the TV stations. Which does not rule out that the defending champion is actually allowed to serve as the first player at Arthur Ashe Stadium. In the case of Daniil Medvedev, there is also the fact that the Russian came to New York as the best in the industry.
Contrary to British practice, Emma Raducanu will not open until the evening on Tuesday. Her rather delightful game against Alizé Cornet is scheduled for 7pm local time at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
At this point, Medvedev should already be preparing for his second round game at the US Open 2022. Not only because Medvedev can only beat Stefan Kozlov himself. But also because he likes the balls at the US open much more than his female counterpart at the top of the WTA charts, Iga Swiatek. She hadn't been pleased about the extraordinary flight characteristics of the rockers in Flushing Meadows.
Medvedev has problems with the French
Daniil Medvedev sees it completely differently, yes. In his press conference on Friday, he even suggested an innovation for two tournaments in which he has so far won little or nothing. If anything, then Indian Wells and Miami should be played with the same Wilson balls as at the US Open, explained Medvedev, who only won the tournament in Los Cabos this season. He won't get any support from Iga Swiatek: She got along so well with the usual HEAD Penn that she immediately got the Sunshine Double.
Daniil Medvedev will be much more worried about the draw than the balls anyway: Because in round two it is definitely against a Frenchman (either against Quentin Halys or Arthur Rinderknech). And as we all know, Medvedev doesn't really like them that much. This season, the number one in the world has already lost to Ugo Humbert (at the ATP Cup), Gael Monfils (in Indian Wells) and Richard Gasquet (in Geneva). This is offset by three victories against Benoit Paire (in Acapulco), Gilles Simon and Adrian Mannarino (both in 's-Hertogenbosch).
Here is the men's individual tableau
nymap