Medvedev completes epic comeback to beat Zverev and reach Australian Open final
The Russian fought back from two sets down to defeat Alexander Zverev and reach the third Australian Open final of his career
Daniil Medvedev reaches the final of the 2024 Australian Open © Virginie Bouyer / Panoramic
Daniil Medvedev staged a remarkable comeback to overturn a two-set deficit and beat Alexander Zverev 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, reaching his third Australian Open final in the process.
It is the second time that Zverev – the sixth seed in Melbourne – has lost a match after leading by two sets, with the first being his agonising loss to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final.
For Medvedev, this is now the third time he has recovered from a double-set deficit at the Australian Open, and the second time in this tournament alone.
The result was all the more impressive given Medvedev’s long and arduous path through to this match.
The Russian had spent more than 16 hours on court prior to the semi-finals and there were concerns that he would possibly be hampered by several bruising encounters en route to the last four. Medvedev had to recover from two sets down to beat Ruusuvuori in a 03:40 AM finish in the second round, before requiring four hours to dispatch Hubert Hurkacz in blistering midday sun on the hottest day of the tournament.
But if Medvedev was feeling the physical exertions he’d put in to reach this point, he showed few signs of it on court.
zverev off to lightning-quick start as medvedev rattled
Zverev – for his part – did very little wrong, serving excellently and playing smart, incisive tennis throughout the first four sets before fading in the fifth.
The German came out of the blocks quickly, playing highly aggressive tennis with clever use of approach play to move into an impressive 4-1 double-break lead.
But Medvedev struck back in the sixth game before steadying the ship with a couple of much-needed holds of serve.
Serving for the set at 5-4, the German tightened up, with Medvedev successfully drawing his opponent into more extended rallies from deep behind the baseline.
Medvedev broke to retrieve the double break back, but faltered again in the very next game as both players struggled to hold serve.
From 6-5 up, Zverev then fended off a break point and held, winning a rally containing a lung-busting 51-shot rally en route to securing the opening set.
The second set began in a more orthodox fashion, with both players holding until the fifth game when the German again struck first, breaking Medvedev with some beautiful ball-striking.
Zverev’s level continued to rise as a commanding lead soon turned into a dominant one as he broke Medvedev for a fifth time in the match to secure a deserved two-set advantage.
medvedev completes epic comeback as zverev fades in fifth
Opportunities to break proved scarce in the third set, with the German especially serving superbly to keep Medvedev at arm’s length.
But it was the Russian who rose to the occasion in the resulting third-set tiebreak, sealing it 7-4 as a few untimely unforced errors crept into Zverev’s game.
With the deficit cut in half and Medvedev having tidied up his serve, the match took on a different complexion in the fourth set. There was palpable tension from Zverev’s box as the finish line – previously right in the German’s sight – moved further away.
The fourth set saw a continuation of dominance for the server, however, with both players holding to take things to a second consecutive tiebreak.
Once again, it was Zverev who blinked in the breaker, squandering the opportunity to serve out the match on his racquet before seeing his opponent send down an ace to seal the fourth and draw level at two sets apiece.
In the decider, Zverev’s resolve finally gave way. Medvedev broke in the fifth game and then again in the ninth to clinch yet another momentous comeback victory on Rod Laver Arena.
sinner awaits in tantalising australian open final
“I have never made it that tough and I’m happy about it,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview.
“Before, my statistic on five-set matches was not that good and physically and mentally it’s tough. Many times in the fifth I was not strong enough, so I’m happy.
“One month ago I wanted to change a little and be strong mentally. I try to focus more, but I am far from being perfect.
“I will try and recover well and be ready for Sunday. I hope you guys will enjoy and we have a great show. I will be the happiest man on the planet (if I win) but I will have to play pretty well and win three sets on Sunday.”
Medvedev will meet Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s showpiece, after the Italian sensationally knocked out 10-champion Novak Djokovic in the first semi-final.
The Russian will be going for his second Grand Slam title in his third Australian Open final, while the Italian is appearing in his first major final.
Medvedev leads their head-to-head 6-3, but Sinner won their last three encounters in three months at the tail end of last season and is one of the most in-form players in the world right now.
It all bodes well for the prospect of a truly spectacular final.
