Stat of the Day: Daniil Medvedev becomes first player to beat both Djokovic and Alcaraz this year

The world No. 3 defeated Djokovic in Dubai in March and Alcaraz in the semifinals of the US Open tonight.



The Break: Honey Deuce cocktail makes US Open $10 million4:51

Daniil Medvedev took out Carlos Alcaraz in an electric semifinal clash at the US Open on Friday night, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, to reach his third US Open final—and fifth overall Grand Slam final—where he’ll face Novak Djokovic for the title this Sunday.

And with his latest victory, Medvedev pulled off a Herculean stat—in a season that’s been largely dominated by Djokovic and Alcaraz, he’s now the only player to have wins over both of them this year.

The No. 3-ranked Russian defeated Djokovic in the semifinals of Dubai and now Alcaraz in the semifinals of the US Open.

Both of them were the reigning world No. 1 at the time.

PLAYERS TO DEFEAT ALCARAZ THIS YEAR:
~ Cam Norrie (Rio de Janeiro final)
~ Jannik Sinner (Miami semifinals)
~ Fabian Marozsan (Rome third round)
~ Novak Djokovic (Roland Garros semifinals)
~ Tommy Paul (Toronto quarterfinals)
~ Novak Djokovic (Cincinnati final)
~ Daniil Medvedev (US Open semifinals)

PLAYERS TO DEFEAT DJOKOVIC THIS YEAR:
~ Daniil Medvedev (Dubai semifinals)
~ Lorenzo Musetti (Monte Carlo third round)
~ Dusan Lajovic (Banja Luka quarterfinals)
~ Holger Rune (Rome quarterfinals)
~ Carlos Alcaraz (Wimbledon final)

Medvedev is also the only player ever to defeat both Djokovic and Alcaraz at a Grand Slam event while they’re ranked No. 1. He defeated a top-ranked Djokovic in the 2021 US Open final.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their Men's Singles Semifinal match on Day Twelve of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
© 2023 Getty Images