Daniil Medvedev is at all times clear about how he’s feeling throughout a event. If the previous World No. 1 is taking part in nicely, he’ll say so and if not, he by no means hesitates to confess it. After defeating Andrey Rublev on Wednesday to succeed in the US Open quarter-finals, Medvedev graded himself a ten out of 10.

However with a possible semi-final showdown towards defending champion Carlos Alcaraz looming — if the Spaniard eliminates Alexander Zverev — Medvedev is aware of which may not be ok.

“It must be 11 out of 10 as a result of that is how Carlos is, very robust,” Medvedev mentioned. “Even right here I believe he misplaced one set however I watched some matches, generally on break factors he runs for the passing pictures. Unbelievable stuff.”

Medvedev has confirmed that at his greatest he can beat anybody on this planet. That’s the reason he was capable of climb to the highest of the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, win a Grand Slam event on the 2021 US Open and declare six ATP Masters 1000 trophies. However will his greatest be sufficient if he takes on Alcaraz?

“I wish to suppose that it is sufficient, as a result of I am taking part in superb,” Medvedev mentioned. “I mentioned it on the courtroom. I really feel like ranging from the third set towards [Christopher] O’Connell, guys have been taking part in brutally good towards me.”

The third seed defined how nicely Rublev and Alex de Minaur performed to storm in entrance of him. However the former champion didn’t panic in both match and was rewarded with victories.

“That is what I am actually happy with. Generally it is not straightforward to return again within the matches, to remain there with the powerful situations. Andrey and Alex are in all probability among the greatest bodily guys on Tour, and I managed to make them endure,” Medvedev mentioned. “I suffered myself additionally, however I managed to make them endure. All of that is good for the arrogance. It’s good for subsequent matches. If I examine myself to 2 years in the past, I’d say undoubtedly not worse. It was sufficient two years in the past. However to me, [I need] to proceed this fashion, two extra matches to go.”

If Medvedev faces Alcaraz subsequent, he should overcome a 1-2 deficit of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence. This yr, the Spaniard has eased to 2 wins with out dropping greater than three video games in a set.

“I’d say what makes him that tough is simply that he has each shot. He has further energy to different gamers. So it is true many gamers — in all probability I’d go along with 97 per cent — it is powerful for them to hit the ball by way of me. I am at all times there, at all times working, at all times making an attempt to get it again,” Medvedev mentioned. “He can do it simply because he has this energy. We see it, 100 mile per hour forehand winners and stuff like this. Some gamers, even when we attempt, we can not do it.”

Medvedev added: “He has each shot within the recreation. However once more, tennis, you’ll be able to at all times beat gamers. Folks beat Novak. Folks even beat Rafa on clay, which is nearly not possible, however some gamers do. It is the identical about Carlos. Each time I will likely be taking part in towards him I wish to attempt to win.”

It’s secure to say Medvedev is not going to dwell an excessive amount of on these losses. He’s pleased with the best way he’s taking part in and eager to deliver even higher tennis to the courtroom regardless of the opponent Friday.

“I’m somebody who fights rather a lot, so I wish to attempt to be higher,” Medvedev mentioned. “I must be 11 out of 10 to attempt to beat him.”