Daniil Medvedev, 4e world, played Stefanos Titsipas (6e) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in just over two hours, Friday February 19, at the Australian Open. He thus qualified for his second Grand Slam final, where he will face world number one and title holder Novak Djokovic on Sunday. The 25-year-old Russian pushed Rafael Nadal to the fifth set of an anthology match in the 2019 US Open final.
“It was not easy, but I’m happy to have managed to recover, especially at some tense moments on my serve, and I’m very happy to be in the final”, did he declare. He is guaranteed to climb for the first time on the podium of the world hierarchy on Monday and could even climb to second place in case of a title.
On Friday, the Russian completely annihilated Tsitsipas with big serves shots (17 aces and 48% of unreturned first balls), big forehands and laser backhands. Never threatened on his own face-off (no break point to defend) during two sets, Medvedev made his opponent play on his service games, keeping him permanently under pressure. By making a breakthrough in the third set, Medvedev looked set to end the match on its streak. But on a completely missed serve play, he let Tsitsipas pick up at 3-3 and the game then leveled off a few games.
Twelve wins in a row
“I was a little scared and I got a little tense because it’s a Grand Slam semi-final and, for us, it’s not the 50e like Novak or Roger! “, he commented.
After having spent a delicate moment, Medvedev made another break on a backhand passing at the end of the race (6-5) and served for the match in stride. He did not let his chance pass
Tsitsipas, 22, had delivered an exceptional fight to dismiss Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, by achieving the feat of recovering a handicap of two sets. But after three semifinals in Major (with the Australian Open 2019 and Roland Garros 2020), he has not yet reached the final.
Medvedev has extended his streak to twelve wins in a row over Top 10 players, since his loss in the 2020 US Open semi-finals to Thiem. He landed a 20 Fridaye victory in as many matches on horseback over 2020 and 2021 (title in the Masters 1000 in Paris, title in the Masters at the end of the season in London, title in the ATP Cup and six victories in Melbourne).
