Like it or not, the Russian meteor will play in the U.S. Open Finals on Sunday.
A villain earlier in the tournament for surreptitiously giving the middle finger to the Open crowd, No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev continued his scorching summer on a cold, rain-infested day with the roof closed over Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Medvedev took advantage of two days of rest to heal a quad injury and straight-setted baseliner Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3, in Friday’s semifinals. He heard no boos on this day after being jeered in three prior matches.
“Coming to the USA, I didn’t know it would be that good,’’ said Medvedev, who has made four straight Finals this summer. “I have to say l love USA.’’
Medvdev said he’d be with “popcorn in front of the TV” watching the Nadal semifinal.
It was a sturdy baseline war from the opening rally, which lasted 20 strokes. Medvedev, who has won two hardcourt titles this summer, was just a little craftier and more consistent. The 6-foot-5 rising star doesn’t bang the ball, but hits enough different spins and angles to pull through.
Dimitrov took out Roger Federer in a five-set quarterfinal and just didn’t have the magic or stamina this time after he and Medvedev battled for more than an hour in each of the first two sets.
Medvedev, 23, has terrific court coverage with a big wingspan, can resemble a brick wall when locked in and may just give Rafael Nadal a test in Sunday’s final — if that’s how it pans out. This was Medvedev’s first major semifinal appearance and he showed no nerves and his leg injury proved no factor.
Nadal was a heavy favorite to advance in the second semifinal Friday night against 23rd-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini.
Dimitrov, in the first-set tiebreaker, took a 2-0 lead but squandered it. He ultimately played a shaky tiebreaker.
At the one-hour mark, at 6-6 in games and 5-5 in the tiebreaker, Dimitrov fell apart. Dimitrov hit an easy forehand into the net and followed up on set point with a wayward forehand that sailed wide.
It was a topsy-turvy first set that began with a 20-shot rally — a harbinger of some endless rallies. Dimitrov posted a few highlights. At 3-3 and 30-all on serve, Dimitrov hit the prettiest shot of the set, a backhand sliced drop shot that died for a winner. He then smacked an ace.
In the second set, they exchanged early breaks.
At 4-4, Medvedev survived a compelling game that included rallies of a 39 and 29 shots. Medvedev banged an ace to go up 5-4.
Dimitrov, while serving, moved two points away from going to two-sets-to-zero at 40-40 when he bashed a second overhead for a winner. But Medvedev came back to win the next three points and the second set.
Dimitrov unwisely came in on a mediocre approach and Medvedev flicked terrific a crosscourt passing shot. On set point, Dmitrov put a backhand into the net.
Leading 2-1 in the third set, Medvedev all but sealed matters as Dimitrov belted a forehand long for the break.
Dimitrov arrived at the Open as an afterthought, ranked 78th, his lowest since 2012. He had lost seven of eight matches, including a straight-sets defeat to 405th-ranked Kevin King in Atlanta in July. His first-ever victory over Federer will always be treasured.