Australian Open: Medvedev Sets Up Final Clash with Sinner after Thrilling Five-Set Win Over Zverev

Daniil Medvedev from Russia secured his spot in the Australian Open final for the third time following an exciting victory against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Friday, January 26. Despite initially trailing by two sets, Medvedev staged an impressive comeback at the Rod Laver Arena, ultimately triumphing with scores of 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3. This victory, combined with Novak Djokovic’s defeat, sets the stage for a new Australian Open champion for the first time since Stanislas Wawrinka’s win in 2014. Medvedev will face off against Sinner in Sunday’s final at Melbourne Park.

The match began with Medvedev facing challenges. Already having endured a grueling five-set match earlier in the tournament, he found himself behind after losing the first two sets in the semifinal against Zverev. Medvedev’s serve faltered at a crucial moment in the first set, resulting in a 7-5 score in favor of Zverev. The second set saw Medvedev struggling again, as Zverev, the German Olympic champion, secured a break and eventually won the set 6-3, putting himself in a strong position to clinch the match.

However, Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, did not yield easily. He fought back, maintaining his serve and shifting the momentum. The third set was closely contested, leading to a tiebreaker where Medvedev emerged victorious, signaling the start of his comeback.

The fourth set mirrored the third, with Medvedev keeping his composure to win another tiebreaker, equalizing the match. In the final set, Medvedev elevated his performance, achieving a crucial break and capitalizing on it to seal the match with a 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory. This marked the second occasion at the Australian Open where he has recovered from a two-set deficit, the first being against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round.

The upcoming final will be Medvedev’s sixth Grand Slam final appearance. His sole major title to date was at the US Open in 2021, where he defeated Djokovic. This Australian Open final will be his third, following previous finals where he faced Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in 2021 and 2022, respectively.