Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round of the US Open on 2 September 2026 after dismissing American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny with a commanding 6-1 6-3 7-5 victory. The seventh seed's progression came on a rain-disrupted day at the tournament, during which Jessica Pegula also advanced, as scheduling complications affected multiple matches across the draw.
An unusual interruption during the second set tested Medvedev's composure when two birds landed on the net midway through a rally. Play continued for approximately 45 seconds before the chair umpire halted the point and ordered it to be replayed. Medvedev, visibly frustrated by the decision, which came immediately after he struck what he believed was a winning cross-court forehand, expressed his displeasure on court.
"This is very bad," the 2021 champion said as he remonstrated at the umpire.
The incident ranked among Medvedev's most peculiar experiences at the New York major. In his on-court interview, he elaborated on his reaction to the stoppage.
"I saw [the birds] straight away. I thought the point would stop straight away but it didn't. Then we play for 45 seconds and the moment I hit the winner we say stop. I'm like, 'Why? We played for 45 seconds!'. But it's okay. I was not happy with the decision but it is was it is. You can't do anything with it. The situation was pretty crazy but I love this court, I'm happy to win, to stay in the US Open, to stay in New York for longer."
Medvedev's path through the opening stages of the tournament reflected his determination to make a deep run. He had dispatched Hugo Gaston in the first round with a commanding performance, winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 14 minutes. The Russian's dominance continued against Gorzny, who ranked 731st in the world. Medvedev completed the opening set in just 21 minutes, establishing control that he maintained throughout the match despite the mid-contest distraction.
Medvedev's recent form and US Open history
The 30-year-old has faced considerable challenges in recent months on the North American hard-court circuit. According to ESPN, he had been struggling earlier in the North American hard-court swing before his opening-round victory. Most recently, at last month's Winston-Salem Open, Medvedev lost in the first round and spent a disconsolate change of ends questioning his future in the sport, musing that
"maybe I should start a career in pickleball".
Russia's Medvedev is well documented for his on-court volatility. At last year's US Open, he received a fine of almost £31,500 for an extraordinary meltdown during his first-round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi. His temperament has been a recurring theme throughout his career, though he has also demonstrated the ability to channel frustration into improved performance, as evidenced by his swift recovery from the bird interruption on 2 September 2026.
Medvedev has only advanced to the second week of a major once in seven tournaments since reaching the US Open quarter-finals in 2024, making his current progress at Flushing Meadows particularly significant. The tournament represents an opportunity for the former champion to rebuild momentum and demonstrate that he remains capable of competing at the highest level despite recent inconsistency.
What happens next for Medvedev
Medvedev will face Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in the third round as he continues his campaign at the US Open. The match represents another opportunity for the seventh seed to prove his credentials in a major championship and move closer to the second week, where he has struggled to reach in recent tournaments.
