Daniil Medvedev advances at US Open with straight-sets win over Sebastian Gorzny

Daniil Medvedev moved into the third round of the US Open with a 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 victory over American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny. BBC Sport reported that the seventh seed completed the straight-sets win after controlling the opening two sets and holding off a closer challenge in the third. Medvedev will play Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the next round.

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The 2021 US Open champion established command immediately, taking the first set in 21 minutes. Gorzny, ranked 731st in the world, could not match that pace early in his Grand Slam main-draw debut. Although the American made the final set more competitive, Medvedev completed the match without being taken to a fourth.

The most unusual interruption came during a rally in the second set, when two birds landed on the net. Play continued for several shots before the chair umpire stopped the point and ordered it replayed. Medvedev had just struck what he believed was a winning cross-court forehand and challenged the timing of the call, but the incident did not alter the direction of the match.

Afterward, Medvedev placed the interruption among the five strangest experiences he has had at the New York tournament. In his on-court interview, he explained that he saw the birds immediately and initially expected play to be halted. He also made clear that, despite disagreeing with the decision, he was pleased to remain in the tournament and spend more time in New York.

The result gives the 30-year-old Russian another opportunity to build momentum at a major. BBC Sport noted that he has reached the second week only once in his past seven Grand Slam appearances since making the US Open quarter-finals in 2024. His next match against Rinderknech will determine whether he can improve that recent record.

Gorzny reached the main draw by winning the USTA American Collegiate Player Wildcard Playoff in June. His appearance carried additional significance after a serious illness at age 15, when a seizure led doctors to place him in an induced coma for four days. The former Wimbledon boys’ doubles champion recovered to make his first Grand Slam appearance in New York, where Medvedev ended his run in the second round.