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Two sets back, a match point against him – and in the end a happy ending for Daniil Medvedev: The US Open champion and title favorite made it to the semifinals at the Australian Open. One thought helped him in particular.
In an extraordinary and so not expected tennis spectacle over five sets, the Russian world number two struggled against the Canadian challenger Felix Auger-Aliassime to a 6: 7 (4: 7), 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 2 ), 7:5, 6:4.
After 4:42 hours, Medvedev was still able to celebrate. Unlike the Olympic champion Alexander Zverev, who failed in the round of 16, last year’s finalist averted a surprisingly early exit.
“I have no idea,” said the 25-year-old in the winner’s interview on the pitch when asked how he managed to escape. “I didn’t play my best tennis and Felix played incredibly. I didn’t know exactly what to do.”
For a long time it had looked as if the bold world ranking ninth Auger-Aliassime would shock the title candidate Medvedev. In the fourth set, Medvedev had to fend off a match point at 4:5, which he managed to do with a good first service.
After that he turned the gripping duel but still. When asked about the critical situations in the game, Medvedev said: “I thought: ‘What would Novak do?'”
Novak Djokovic is known for making his opponent work hard for victory even in a supposedly hopeless situation. The fact that Medvedev talks about it so openly and honestly shows how much he admires the mental strength of the Serbian world number one. He shouldn’t be the only tennis professional who would like to cut himself off from the way of thinking of the Australian Open record champion (9).
Djokovic is absent from Melbourne this year after failing to appeal his canceled visa in federal court.
Opponent Tsitsipas has saved his strength
In the semifinals on Friday, last year’s finalist Medvedev will now meet Greek world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas, who made his semifinals again perfect with an impressive 6: 3, 6: 4, 6: 2 against the Italian talent Jannik Sinner. In the other semi-final duel, the Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal wants to secure the chance of the 21st Grand Slam title and the associated record against the Italian Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.
Tsitsipas should be quite right that Medvedev had to wear himself out when he himself had long since disappeared from the Rod Laver Arena. “That’s just the beginning. Let’s do it,” announced the Greek: “I’m ready for anything.” That is anything but a matter of course, just as little as his trip to Australia was at all. After his splendid performance, the 23-year-old spoke almost affectionately of his “Doctor Frank” with a smile. And that the doctor makes it difficult for him to forget the elbow operation, after all, he sends him regular messages.
“I’m sure my doctor is watching,” said Tsitsipas with a grin when, after his successful quarter-finals, he went to the microphone with his wild, sweaty mane for the winner’s interview: “Neither of us expected me to take part in the Australian Open . It wasn’t part of the plan to play in Australia but I proved him wrong.”
Such an injury helps to stay humble, Tsitsipas said: “When things are going well, you tend to glorify yourself as if you are untouchable. It’s important in this process to keep your feet on the ground and remember that you’re a human striving for greatness.”
In Melbourne, the fourth in the world rankings has already taken two steps further than Olympic champion Zverev, who surprisingly failed in the round of 16. Tsitsipas has spiced up his statistics with the third semi-final in Melbourne after 2019 and 2021 and the fifth Grand Slam semi-final overall.
On hot Wednesday in Melbourne, Tsitsipas impressed with his uncompromising forehand. In the meantime, only a rain break slowed him down, during which the roof was closed and hard-working ball children and helpers wiped the floor dry with towels. The Greek did not want to answer specifically whether it was his best match of the season so far. “But it was a great performance from start to finish without a doubt,” he said. This form should lead him to his first Grand Slam title.