Daniil Medvedev secured a place in the third round of the US Open by defeating American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny with scores of 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 at Louis Armstrong Stadium on Wednesday.
The match featured an unexpected interruption when two birds landed on the net, which caused some frustration for Medvedev when the umpire delayed stopping play. He expressed his discontent after the incident, noting that the point continued for about 45 seconds before the official intervened.
Medvedev, the 2021 tournament champion, delivered an impressive performance, serving 14 aces throughout the match. He dominated the first set, taking just 21 minutes to win it and hitting 10 winners compared to Gorzny’s two. This marked Gorzny’s second appearance in a Grand Slam main draw.
While maintaining a composed demeanor throughout the tournament, Medvedev’s patience was tested when the birds disrupted a rally during the second set, leading to a replay of the point. “I saw them right away and thought the point would stop immediately,” he said, reflecting on the unusual situation.
Despite the distraction, Medvedev continued to play strongly in the third set, briefly expressing frustration towards the chair umpire during a changeover. Gorzny showed improvement, managing to save four break points during the ninth game. However, Medvedev ultimately broke Gorzny in the 11th game and closed out the match with an unreturnable serve.
The incident with the birds added to Medvedev’s collection of unusual moments at Flushing Meadows, a venue where he has had a tumultuous relationship with the crowd since his 2019 appearance. That year, he faced a hostile audience but ultimately gained their respect after reaching the finals.
