World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, chasing second major title, reaches US Open semifinals with win against No. 5 Daniil Medvedev | CNN

In a game with lots of back and forth action, top-ranked player Jannik Sinner beat fifth-ranked Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 to move on to the semi-finals of the US Open for the first time.

The 23-year-old player from Italy, hoping to win his second major tennis championship, has made it to the semi-finals of three big tournaments this year. He is also the first man born in the 1990s or 2000s to reach the semi-finals in all four major tournaments.

"It was really difficult," Sinner shared during a court interview. "We are familiar with each other. We anticipated that it would be a very physical match. The first two sets were unusual because whoever managed to make the first break then gained momentum."

Sinner is the last man standing in the men's singles competition who has previously won a grand slam championship. His upcoming match is against a rising player, Jack Draper. Draper, seeded at No. 25, has reached the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time by defeating the Australian and current world No. 10, Alex de Minaur, with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

In the other side of the bracket, two American tennis players, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, who are ranked No. 20 and No. 12 respectively, will compete in the semifinals. The victor of this match will be the first American male player to reach a singles grand slam final since Andy Roddick did so at Wimbledon in 2009.

Sinner and Medvedev faced off in a major tournament for the third time this year. Medvedev had won the US Open in 2021.

In January, Sinner made an impressive comeback from being two sets down to defeat Medvedev and win the Australian Open. However, in July during the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Medvedev managed to pull off a win against Sinner in a five-set match.

In the 13 times they have played each other during their careers, Medvedev has emerged victorious seven times. However, Sinner has now triumphed in six of their last seven matchups against the Russian player.

"It's challenging. He is definitely one of the top players globally, ranked as number one, and he truly deserves it," Medvedev expressed to the press.

He is a challenging opponent to compete against. He has a strong understanding of the game. He often selects the perfect shot at the perfect time, which is why I enjoy facing players like him. It adds an extra level of intensity to the match, where every point counts and strategy becomes crucial, especially when facing break points. It becomes a mental battle of trying to anticipate his moves and figuring out how to respond effectively.

I think all the games were really good in their own unique way and the fans seemed to enjoy them. I would love to have the opportunity to play against him again in the grand slams.

Sinner's run is happening while everyone is talking about his recent doping case that was made public on August 20. This news surprised the tennis community. Despite testing positive for small amounts of a banned substance twice, Sinner has been able to continue playing without being suspended. He maintains his innocence and claims he did nothing wrong.

"I have my close-knit team and my inner circle," Sinner stated during his press conference after the match. "They understand me, they know I always surround myself with those who know and support me."

This section is crucial. I am extremely pleased to have them as coaches and also as friends outside of the game.

Sure, things were a bit difficult at first, but each day things improved. I'm pleased with how things are going. I'm looking forward to seeing how I perform in the semi-finals.

Sinner and Draper have only faced off once before, when the British player beat the Italian on the grass courts at Queen's Club in London in 2021.

"We are very familiar with each other," Sinner stated. "We are also close friends outside of the competition. It's going to be a challenging match. He is in great form. He has yet to drop a set, so he is performing exceptionally well. I am excited to be in the semi-finals and I am curious to see who will perform better in a few days."

Draper, a 22-year-old left-handed player with a powerful serve, has made it to the US Open semifinals without losing a single set, just like Medvedev did in 2020. He is the first British player to reach the US Open semifinals since Andy Murray won the championship in 2012.

"I haven't had a chance to catch up with Andy," Draper mentioned to the reporters. "I believe he is taking pleasure in his retirement, spending time playing golf and cherishing moments with his loved ones. He hasn't been able to spend much time with his family in recent years, so I'm sure they are happy to have him around now."

I have chatted with Andy a couple times before about playing in important grand slam matches and other similar situations. I believe that getting advice from people you admire is valuable, but ultimately, it's based on their own experiences.

I believe experiencing these situations firsthand and gaining personal understanding is crucial because each individual reacts uniquely to various pressures, circumstances, and feelings.

I feel confident knowing that Andy is always there for me if I need him, but I also feel at ease. I'm feeling really positive and just moving forward one day at a time. I know he's always ready to support me whenever I reach out.

This marked Draper's first victory over the 25-year-old de Minaur in four previous attempts. De Minaur had not competed in a singles tournament since pulling out of Wimbledon due to a hip injury.