"They have this good chemistry" - Daniil Medvedev picks WTA star he'd like to face at the US Open mixed doubles event

With the US Open implementing a new format for it's mixed doubles tournament beginning this summer, several top-ranked singles stars have the opportunity to compete for Grand Slam glory in that category. Former World No.1 Daniil Medvedev has thrown his name into the mix, and he has his sight set on avenging a loss to a particular WTA player.

The Russian ATP star will be competing alongside WTA compatriot Mirra Andreeva at the revamped mixed doubles event in New York this summer. Although Medvedev is by no means a doubles specialist, the duo did team together at the 2024 Olympic games.

The Russian pairing had a daunting first round task, as they took on the experienced team of Sara Errani and Andre Vavassori. The Italians recorded a comfortable victory, scoring an easy 6-3 6-2 win over their Russian opponents.

Errani is a doubles specialist, having won seven doubles Grand Slam titles. Vavassori has won two, making the Italians a formidable pair. Nonetheless, Medvedev is eager to face the duo again, this time on the hard courts of New York.

"Yeah, first of all, I’d like to play Sara in singles," joked Medvedev when asked if he'd like to avenge his Olympic loss to the WTA star. "Maybe with this serve I could have done better because you have bigger court. No, they play[ed] amazing, with Andrea. I think they won for sure US Open last year but maybe like Indian Wells or something else I think they won this year, or maybe Roland Garros? French Open, yeah, exactly.
“They have this good chemistry where of course maybe it would be even better if she would serve better, and Andrea takes big space at the net, so at one moment it stresses you.
“I remember at the beginning of the match I was returning her serve well, and we got a bit unlucky with Mirra not to break, and then step by step during the match, I felt so much pressure that I have to do good with this serve that I actually was suddenly struggling. For sure would love to play them in US Open. It’s going to be fun event. Whoever we have, we’re going to try to do better than in Olympics."

The 2021 US Open champion is currently competing at the DC Open, where he defeated China's Yibing Wu to reach the quarterfinals.