Shot Tolerance

A Djokovic-Medvedev Rematch

Daniil Medvedev already has accomplished one of his missions in New York: stopping the rematch between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

That was a buzz killer no doubt. Djokovic vs Alcaraz is one of the hottest tickets in sports, not just tennis.

But Medvedev, a lanky contrarian, was just the man to spoil it with his unique gifts and skillset. He slaps the ball with unorthodox technique and apparently little margin for error, yet so rarely misses. With his quick mind and long limbs, he has an ability to anticipate and reach shots that other tennis luminiaries cannot. Though he is gangly and looks like the sort of fellow you might pick last for a relay race, he is deceptively, blazingly fast, as he reminded Alcaraz again and again in an often-spectacular four-set victory in the US Open semifinals on Friday.