Medvedev earns US Open cheers in loss to Nadal

NEW YORK: Imagine this a week ago: US Open fans going crazy for Daniil Medvedev.

The guy who they loved to boo, who defiantly told them the more they jeered him, the more he would win, was suddenly hearing cheers Sunday.

Medvedev earned them with the way he played.

And with how he acted. A spirited effort on the court was followed by humble words after it, as he congratulated Rafael Nadal and saluted the crowd. “I mean, was amazing match. It’s an amazing story,” Medvedev said. “All this summer is amazing for me. I will remember every moment of it.”

The 23-year-old Russian was humorous during his post-match remarks, providing a little more entertainment to a crowd that had already been treated to 4 hours, 50 minutes of it during a riveting match that seemed would be over much, much earlier. Nadal had won the first two sets and then broke Medvedev’s serve for a 3-2 lead in the third.

But Medvedev kept fighting, aided by a crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium that wanted to stay a little longer. Turns out, they stayed a lot longer. “Amazing performance and he will learn from this to be stronger,” said Gilles Cervara, Medvedev’s coach.

Medvedev broke Nadal’s serve in the final game of both the third and fourth sets, and even when it seemed he was out of it in the fifth he refused to give in easily.

By then, some fans were even chanting Medvedev’s name.

“I was fighting for every point. I think they appreciated it,” Medvedev said. “I knew I have to leave my heart out there for them, also. For myself first of all, but for them, also. I think they saw it and they appreciate it.”

He then had fans standing and cheering with his remarks during the presentation — a far cry from his third-round match, when one fan was seen extending his middle finger toward him.

Medvedev had drawn their ire for a series of antics on the court, first snatching the towel from a ball-person, then tossing his racket in the direction of the chair umpire, and finally flashing his middle finger next to his forehead. When Medvedev trolled them during his post-match interview that night, arms extended to encourage more boos, he seemed to assure himself a permanent place on the fans’ list of players they love to hate.

But he was contrite afterward and vowed to be a better person.