Rinderknech swept aside as Medvedev reaches New York fourth round

What happened

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIvifY-xCEA

Daniil Medvedev moved into the fourth round of the 2026 US Open with a controlled 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Arthur Rinderknech on Friday in New York. The 2021 champion has now won all three of his matches at this year's tournament without dropping a set, an efficient opening week that has put him back among the leading contenders in the men's draw.

The official US Open report said Medvedev absorbed an early break of serve, his first setback on serve at this tournament, and quickly restored order. The opening games were dominated by accurate serving from both players, but Medvedev's ability to extend rallies and force extra shots gradually separated him from the Frenchman. Once he established control, he produced the same 6-4 margin in each set and closed the match without allowing it to develop into a longer physical contest.

Why it matters

The result sends Medvedev to the US Open round of 16 for the seventh time in the past eight editions. That consistency is especially significant in New York, where the hard courts reward his deep return position, reach and patient baseline defense. His 2021 title remains the clearest example of how difficult that combination can be to solve over five sets.

Rinderknech entered the match with reasons for confidence. The players had split their previous two meetings, with Medvedev winning at the 2022 US Open before Rinderknech answered at the 2025 Shanghai Masters. The Frenchman also arrived in New York after reaching a career-high ranking of No. 24 earlier in 2026, according to the tournament's official account. Friday's match, however, showed the difference between threatening Medvedev in isolated stretches and sustaining that pressure across three full sets.

Tournament impact

Medvedev's straight-set progress has limited both his time on court and his physical expenditure through the first three rounds. That can become increasingly valuable in the second week of a Grand Slam, when opponents are stronger and recovery windows matter more. It also means he has navigated the opening phase without the kind of extended match that can complicate a title run.

The broader signal is that Medvedev's defensive base and serving patterns are already holding up under New York conditions. Rinderknech found the first break against him at this year's event, but it did not produce a set or change the direction of the match. Medvedev responded, reset the rallies and kept the scoreboard moving in predictable increments.

What to watch

The next round will test whether Medvedev can preserve that economy as the draw narrows. His first week has supplied a strong platform: three victories, nine sets won and none lost. The stakes now rise, but so does the value of the energy he has conserved. Friday's performance was less about spectacle than repeatable control, and that is often the most useful form for a proven Grand Slam champion entering the second week.