Daniil Medvedev (No. 3) will face Jannik Sinner (No. 4) in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday in Melbourne.
The Russian joined the Italian, who defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final, by toppling Alexander Zverev (No. 6) 5-7 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/ 5) 6-3 after 4h18′ of play on Friday.
This is already the sixth time that Daniil Medvedev (28 years old on February 11) has reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament. The Muscovite has only one major title to his name, acquired in New York in 2021 where he defeated a paralyzed Novak Djokovic in the final while the Serbian was aiming for the calendar Grand Slam.
Daniil Medvedev does not, however, have to be ashamed of his four failures recorded at this stage of the competition in a Major. He twice suffered the law of Novak Djokovic (Melbourne 2021, New York 2023), also losing twice to Rafael Nadal (New York 2019, Melbourne 2022).
Zverev two points from victory
The winner of the 2020 Masters has in any case won the right to challenge Jannik Sinner on Sunday. He thus found himself three points from defeat against Alexander Zverev at 4/4 in the tie-break of the third set, then two points from elimination at 4/5 in the deciding game of the third set.
But Alexander Zverev, as is often the case, failed to seize his chance. And it seemed to choose its side at 5/5 in the tie-break of the fourth set, when Daniil Medvedev managed an improbable cushioned return winner to offer himself a set point. The tide had definitely turned.
The Russian in fact dominated the proceedings in the fifth set, during which he only lost five points on his serve and did not have to face the slightest break point. Dropped by his forehand, Alexander Zverev ended up breaking down by conceding his serve twice in this decisive set.
6-3 Medvedev, but…
Daniil Medvedev can expect to suffer in the final from 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. He certainly leads 6-3 in his face-to-face with Jannik Sinner (22), who will be playing his first Grand Slam final. But he remains on three defeats against the Italian, all conceded last fall.
Beaten by the Russian in the final in Rotterdam then in Miami at the start of 2023, Jannik Sinner took his doubly revenge by winning against him in Beijing then in Vienna, also each time in the final. He hit the nail on the head by taking it out at the semi-final stage in the ATP Masters in Turin. And the Italian was full of confidence by clearly dominating Novak Djokovic on Friday.
/ATS