Daniil Medvedev had to dig deep to reach his fifth Major semi-final in Melbourne. The last year’s finalist overpowered Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 and set the clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Daniil came from two sets to love down for the second time in his career and saved a match point in the fourth set’s tenth game to seal the deal in four hours and 42 minutes!
The young Canadian gave his best to topple a better-ranked opponent. He built a massive advantage and missed that match point to finish on the losing side. Both players won 182 points and scored only five breaks in a super tight clash that kept the crowd at Rod Laver Arena on the edge of their seats.
Auger-Aliassime had more winners and unforced errors. He lost ground with his forehand in the crucial moments and fell behind despite forging a nice lead in the shortest range up to four strokes. In another essential element of his heartbreaking loss, the Canadian converted only two out of 11 break chances.
The encounter kicked off with great serving, and they reached 5-5 after 37 minutes. Felix broke in the 11th game after Daniil’s double fault and failed to bring the opener home after spraying a forehand error a few minutes later.
Auger-Aliassime stayed calm and claimed the breaker 7-4 after Medvedev’s forehand mistake to forge the advantage after 61 minutes. With momentum on his side, the Canadian hit 15 winners and nine unforced errors in the second set.
He dropped four points behind the initial shot and seized the only break chance to take it in style. The Russian squandered four game points in the second game and played a terrible forehand on Felix’s break chance to fall 2-0 behind.
Auger-Aliassime served well and landed three winners at 5-3 to move two sets to love up after an hour and 42 minutes.
Daniil Medvedev prevailed over Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Australian Open.
The young gun lost only nine points behind the initial shot in the third set.
Still, it was not enough to carry him home after Medvedev raised his level. Daniil fended off a break chance at 1-1 with a forehand winner and closed it with a service winner to gain a boost. The rest of the set brought nine commanding holds and the second tie break, a must-winning one for Medvedev.
It started raining after the third point, and they continued under a closed roof. Daniil hit two winners when they continued to open a 4-1 gap and sealed the set after a service winner at 6-2. Auger-Aliassime fended off a break chance at 4-4 in the fourth set with an ace and earned a match point in the next one.
Daniil stayed calm and saved it with a service winner, making no further mistakes and closing the game with a smash winner for 5-5. The Russian grabbed a break a few minutes later after the Canadian’s forehand mistake for a massive boost of confidence.
Daniil seized the fourth set point at 6-5 with an ace to force a decider after three hours and 41 minutes. Felix had his chances, but it was not to be for him. He squandered all six break opportunities and lost serve once to push Daniil over the top.
The Russian saved three break points in game two and broke the Canadian in the next one after Auger-Aliassime’s double fault. Medvedev opened a 3-1 gap with a smash winner and saved a break point at 4-3 with a service winner to remain in front.
Daniil closed the game with a volley winner and faced two more break points while serving for the victory at 5-4. World no. 2 denied them and moved over the top when Felix sent a backhand long to celebrate one of his most notable victories and advance into the last four.
