World no. 2 Daniil Medvedev made his fourth Major final at the Australian Open, the second in a row in Melbourne. Daniil toppled Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in two and a half hours to move a win away from the title.
Thus, Medvedev set the title clash against Rafael Nadal, seeking the second consecutive Major crown and the ATP throne. As many times before, it was an intense battle between two great rivals. Medvedev accused Tsitsipas of coaching and pressured the chair umpire to give him a warning, arguing with Jaume Campistol and not choosing words.
In the end, the Russian did enough to bring the victory home in four sets, taking charge after losing the second and moving into the second straight Australian Open final. They stayed neck and neck until 4-4 in the third set before Daniil grabbed eight of the next nine games to control the scoreboard and become the tenth player with four hard-court Major finals.
Serving at 71%, the Russian fired 13 aces and dropped 14 points behind the initial shot. He got broken twice from four chances offered to the rival. Tsitsipas could not follow those numbers in his games, suffering four breaks from 12 opportunities given to Medvedev and losing ground in the shortest and mid-range exchanges.
Battling under a close roof over Rod Laver Arena, Daniil and Stefanos reached 4-4 in swift 20 minutes in the opener. They barely missed the first serve and kept the returners away from any chances. Suddenly, Medvedev earned three break chances with a forehand winner in game nine.
Tsitsipas saved those and held with a mighty backhand after four deuces to remain on the positive side. The set went into a tie break, and Daniil came back from 4-1 down with a forehand down the line winner in the eighth point for 4-4.
The Russian painted a backhand down the line winner at 5-5 for a set point and seized it after the Greek’s loose forehand to take the opener in 47 minutes.
Daniil Medvedev reached his second consecutive Australian Open final.
Tsitsipas broke at the beginning of the second set with a forehand winner and held at 15 with an ace for a 2-0 advantage.
Medvedev pushed strong on the return in game six and converted the fourth break chance after Tsitsipas’ wayward forehand, bringing them back to 3-3. Daniil lost serve again in game nine after a double fault, losing his temper and arguing with the chair umpire over Stefanos’ coaching.
Tsitsipas held after deuce in game ten after the rival’s forehand error to seal the set and improve his chances after an hour and 25 minutes. Daniil saved break chances at the beginning of the third set, and they both served well in the next eight games to stay neck and neck.
Tsitsipas served to stay in the set at 4-5 and faced three set points after a forehand mistake. The Russian forced the Greek’s error on the second to wrap up the set and move in front after two hours and six minutes. The fourth set was the most one-sided.
Medvedev had a boost and dropped only a couple of points behind the initial shot. The pressure was on Tsitsipas, and the Greek could not endure it. Stefanos lost serve at 15 in the fourth game after a poor backhand to fall 3-1 down.
Daniil opened a 5-1 gap with a forehand winner in game six and served for the victory. Medvedev emerged at the top with a backhand winner in game seven, holding at love and advancing into his fourth Major final.
