Winner of Tsitsipas, Medvedev will play his second consecutive final

Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Friday January 28, 2022 at 12:21 p.m.

Beaten by Novak Djokovic last year in the Australian Open final, Daniil Medvedev will have another chance to win the tournament after his semi-final victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Daniil Medvedev is going to get a second chance in Melbourne. After failing last year in the final of the Australian Open against Novak Djokovic, the world number 2 once again took the advantage over Stefanos Tsitsipas on the Rod Laver Arena court to validate his ticket for the final. A success which also has a taste of revenge for the Russian, who had fallen against the Greek in the quarter-finals of the last Roland-Garros. A semi-final that started with expeditious service games. Indeed, on the first eight games, only two points were conceded by the one who engaged. Daniil Medvedev then increased the pressure on Stefanos Tsitsipas but the latter was able to dismiss the four break points he had to face and then take his opponent to the decisive game. The world number 4 started strong to lead four points to one before collapsing. Failing to score just one of the next seven points, he conceded the first set to Daniil Medvedev. But the reaction of pride from Stefanos Tsitsipas was immediate. Indeed, on his first break point of the match, the Greek took the service of Daniil Medvedev to race in the lead at the start of the second set.

Medvedev fumed at Tsitsipas

However, the native of Athens then experienced an air pocket which allowed the Russian to return to three games everywhere. Finding his senses and taking advantage of a particularly nervous Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained surgical efficiency on break points in his favor. Winning the last three games of the second set, the number 4 seed was able to pick up one set everywhere. It was then that the Russian literally erupted and had a heated explanation with the chair umpire of the meeting, whom he criticized for not sanctioning the Greek for the exchanges with his entourage, in particular his father. Placed under surveillance, the Tsitsipas clan saw their protege be punished with a warning later in the game. After leaving the Rod Laver Arena for a few minutes to come to his senses, Daniil Medvedev had a complicated start to the third set with two break points saved in the first game. From there, the world number 2 came to his senses but, above all, Stefanos Tsitsipas began to show signs of fragility. If the Greek made a good figure throughout the third set, he ended up giving in at the very last moment.

Medvedev against Nadal and history in the final

Led five games to four and then serving to stay in the set, the world number 4 dropped the first three points and then offered three set points to Daniil Medvedev. If the Russian missed the first, he had no such qualms about finishing and gaining an upper hand in this semi-final, which turned out to be final. Indeed, Stefanos Tsitsipas resisted by winning his first service game quite easily. A game that turned out to be his last in this encounter. In the process, Daniil Medvedev imposed his game, converted the two break points he was able to get. Chaining five consecutive games, the world number 2 put an end to the suspense (7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in 2h33 ‘) and qualified for his second consecutive final at the Australian Open , his fourth in a Grand Slam. Faced with Rafael Nadal, the Muscovite will have the opportunity to add a second major title to his list after the US Open last year and deprive the “Bull of Manacor” of a historic 21st Grand Slam title. Daniil Medvedev is also taking another step towards a potential world number 1 spot in the next few weeks.

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