Daniil Medvedev will compete in his third Australian Open final following a cracking 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 win over Alexander Zverev. Daniil came back from two sets to love down for the second time this fortnight, staying calm while being on the verge of defeat and emerging at the top to set the title clash versus Jannik Sinner. Zverev experienced another blow at Majors, doing everything right in the opening two sets and failing to cross the finish line the following two. Medvedev served well after the second set, keeping the pressure on the other side and remaining on the title course. Medvedev erased the deficit in the opening set and stayed in touch for almost an hour before Zverev closed it with a late break.
The Russian served at 48% and struggled behind the second serve. Alexander clinched all three break points and lost serve two times, taming his strokes more efficiently and forging the advantage. Zverev sprayed a forehand error in the encounter’s first game, allowing Medvedev to hold at love. The German repeated that in game two with a service winner and forced the rival’s mistake in the next one for a break at love and a 2-1 advantage. Alexander fired a service winner in the fourth game, cementing the advantage after ten minutes. Daniil struggled to impose his initial shot, experiencing another break in game five and falling 4-1 behind. Zverev sprayed a forehand error in the sixth game, losing serve and reducing his lead.
unknown© Daniel Pockett / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
Alexander closed the eighth game after deuce with a service winner, moving 5-3 up and forcing Daniil to serve to stay in the set. The Russian fired an ace, holding at 30 and prolonging the action. Zverev served for the opener at 5-4 and sprayed a forehand error, offering his rival a break chance. The 6th seed placed another forehand outside the court, losing serve and bringing Medvedev back to 5-5. Instead of building on that, Daniil lost an extended rally in the 11th game and offered Alexander a break point. Zverev landed a lob winner, delivering a break and serving for the set for the second time. There was more drama around the corner, with the German facing two break points in game 12. He denied them and earned a set point following an incredible rally.
Daniil Medvedev came from two sets to love down versus Alexander Zverev.
Alexander seized it with a volley winner, moving 7-5 in front after 58 minutes. Zverev served at 74% in the second set, taming his strokes nicely and never facing a break point. He broke Medvedev two times, building a massive advantage and moving closer to the finish line. Alexander squandered a break chance in the first game with a wayward forehand, and they served well in the next three games for 2-2. The German pushed strong on the return in game five, earning four break chances and seizing the last with a forced error. Alexander held at 15 in game six, cementing the lead and moving 4-2 in front. They served well in games seven and eight, and Medvedev needed a fine hold at 3-5 to extend the set.
Daniil Medvedev & Alexander Zverev, Australian Open 2024© Graham Denholm / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
Daniil played another loose service game, spraying a forehand mistake and falling 7-5, 6-3 behind after an hour and 43 minutes. With no room for errors, Medvedev produced six comfortable holds in the third set, serving well and keeping the pressure on the other side. Alexander saved two break points in the third game and faced another at 4-4. Medvedev squandered it with a wild forehand, missing the last chance for the returners ahead of the tie break. Daniil earned a mini-break in the first point with a forced error, and Alexander pulled it back with a fine attack for 1-1. The Russian landed a volley winner for 2-1 and welcomed the rival’s mistake in the fourth point for 3-1.
Alexander erased the deficit after Daniil’s backhand error in the sixth point, locking the result at 3-3 and producing more drama. The Russian grabbed another mini-break in the ninth point and moved 6-4 up after the German’s massive forehand mistake. Daniil clinched the breaker 7-4, wrapping up the set in just over an hour and extending the match and his chances. The fourth set saw more drama, with 11 commanding holds and one challenging game for Zverev. The German saved two break points in the eighth game before falling in the tie break, allowing the Russian to force a decider. They kicked off the set with four holds at love, with Zverev firing a service winner for 2-2. The returners had no chances until the eighth game when Daniil earned two break points.
Daniil Medvedev, Australian Open 2024© Cameron Spencer / Staff – Getty Images Sport
Alexander saved them and held with a service winner for 4-4. The set went into a tie break, with mini-breaks until the ninth point when Medvedev hit a double fault. However, he pulled the mini-break and created a set point after a lucky return winner at 5-5. The Russian seized a set point with an ace, introducing a decider after three hours and 40 minutes. The fifth set saw four comfortable holds for 2-2 and more drama. Zverev struggled on serve in the fifth game, spraying a forehand error on the third break point and falling 3-2 behind. Daniil confirmed the lead with a hold in game six after Alexander’s volley error at the net, moving closer to the finish line. The German held in the seventh game before the Russian grabbed the next one with a service winner, forcing the 6th seed to serve to stay in the match at 3-5. Zverev sprayed a backhand error and faced a match point. Alexander hit a loose forehand to send Daniil over the top and experience a massive blow.
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