Medvedev wears down Hurkacz to reach semi-finals

Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 3 seed, was at his resilient best as he fended off an inspired Hubert Hurkacz, the No 9 seed, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 to advance to the last four of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night.

Medvedev, ranked No 3, will face the winner of the match between German Alexander Zverev, the No 6 seed, and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the second seed, next.

Medvedev led 4-2 in the fourth set but Hurkacz hit back and snatched the set to force a decider, only for the Russian to hold his nerve in the fifth, breaking in the seventh game to clinch victory after three hours, 59 minutes.

Hurkacz hits back after tight first set

Hurkacz had won three of their five previous meetings and it seemed as if he was in the head of Medvedev, who struggled to assert his authority.

The Russian pinched the first set on the tiebreak but Hurkacz lifted his game in the second, defending brilliantly and then turning defence into attack superbly to level.

The pair shared numerous rallies of more than 20 shots as they ran each other ragged on a humid day at Melbourne Park and Medvedev was hanging in there, thanks to the fact he was winning most of the long rallies.

Medvedev leads but is pegged back again

Medvedev reasserted his authority in the third set and when he led 4-2 in the fourth the match looked over but Hurkacz continued to fight and got the broke back in the seventh game, before breaking again to level the match for a second time.

Neither man had a break point in the first six games before Medvedev, beginning to come forward at every opportunity, even serving and volleying, broke for 4-3. Still Hurkacz had a chance to break back in the following game but Medvedev saved it and then clinched victory with a brilliant drop shot.

Ahead of his victory, the Russian won against French qualifier Terence Atmane (5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 1-0 ret.), Finn Emil Ruusuvuori (3-6, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0), Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No 27 seed (6-3, 6-4, 6-3) and Portuguese Nuno Borges (6-3, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1).

Hurkacz, ranked No 9, defeated Australian qualifier Omar Jasika (7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-2), qualifier Jakub Mensik (6-7 (9), 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3), Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No 21 seed (3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-3) and French wildcard Arthur Cazaux (7-6 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4) in the previous rounds.

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last 8 results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 58.910.000, most recent results first):

• Alexander Zverev vs. Carlos Alcaraz
• Jannik Sinner (4) beat Andrey Rublev (5): 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-3
• Novak Djokovic (1) beat Taylor Fritz (12): 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3