Match point fended off and chances for the title preserved: Tournament favorite Daniil Medvedev just averted an impending quarter-final exit at the Australian Open with strong nerves.
The 25-year-old US Open winner from Russia beat the furious Felix Auger-Aliassime on Wednesday 6: 7 (4: 7), 3: 6, 7: 6 (7: 2), 7: 5, 6: 4 and advanced to the Melbourne semi-finals for the second time in a row.
Last year’s finalist had a hard time with the 21-year-old Canadian, who narrowly missed revenge for the semi-final defeat in New York last September.
Medvedev now meets the Greek top player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who, after an impressive performance and a surprisingly clear 6:3, 6:4, 6:2 against the highly talented South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner, reached the round of the last four Down Under for the third time.
Also in the title race are 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal from Spain and Italian Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who will contest the second semi-final on Friday.
Medvedev saves match point
Auger-Aliassime gave Medvedev a big fight and earned a match point in the fourth set. But Medvedev showed his best tennis under pressure and earned the duel against Tsitsipas.
The 23-year-old French Open finalist had previously shown himself to be self-confident after his success. “Even if I’m in the semifinals now – that’s just the beginning,” said Tsitsipas.
