The Russian could be the first player in the “open era” (since 1968) to win his first two consecutive Grand Slam titles.
Russians Daniel Medvedevranked number two in the world, saved a match point and won in five sets on Wednesday against the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (9), in 6-7 (4/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 and 6-4, in 4 hours and 42 minutes of battle, in the quarter-finals of Australian Open.
In the semi-finals, he will face Greece’s Medvedev on Friday Stefanos Tsitsipasnumber four in the ATP rankings, who beat the Italian with more power (6-3, 6-4, 6-2) Yannick Sener (10º).
Medvedev, last year’s runner-up at the Australian Open, became the top seed in the tournament after the country was expelled from Novak Djokovic (Number one and current champion) before the start of the competition for not being vaccinated against him COVID-19.
The Russian star, winner of the US Open in 2021, could become the first player in ‘open era(since 1968) to win his first two consecutive Grand Slam titles.
“I adored two sets, playing incredibly well… He was all over the place and I couldn’t play the best tennis. So I wondered what Novak (Djokovic) would do. And I decided to make it work. If he wants to win this game, he has to get it, point by point.Medvedev explained how he managed his reaction.
For the viewers, the match, which lasted 4 hours and 42 minutes, was a spectacle full of doubt and emotion.
Both of them gave themselves to the extreme, ran all over the track, climbed up in search of air balls …
Even at 5-4 in the fifth set, when he was serving to close the match, Medvedev had to save two balls from rest timeall a sample of how Auger-Alessim fought to the end.
One moment undoubtedly marked before and after the match: when the roof of Rod Laver Stadium was closed due to rain, with Medvedev 2-1 in tie breaker from the third group.
“I was so sweaty that I couldn’t hold my racket while serving. When the roof was closed, it was less hot. I felt like the party was changingThe Russian admitted.
In the fourth set, Medvedev had to save match point against her, a limited moment the world number two was able to beat. (Dr)
