Australian Open 2021 Highlights: Daniil Medvedev beats Stefanos Tsitsipas, faces Novak Djokovic in the final

Daniil Medvedev speaks after the match:

It was definitely not easy, because you saw the match with Rafael Nadal. It was more or less the same score as it was in that match, so I was a bit worried he would come back. But I was able to turn on my game, and get the win.

I just tried to hit aces and winners, and get the ball in the court. I stayed in the match thanks to some aces, I’m glad I managed to keep my nerves under control for a while, though I made mistakes in that game where I was broken.

I was dominating the winners. I think he was tired after the Rafa match, which was surprising, but I saw very quickly that he was struggling when I was moving him around on court.

To be honest, I don’t know why I’m getting good results. I’ve been working very hard all my life, and I hope I’ll be this good when I’m as old as you (points at Jim Courier) Before Paris, I was struggling, making mistakes, and I’m doing well right now, so I hope that things stay as they are.

I learned a lot from the match against Nadal in the Us Open final. I took experience from it. It was my first Grand Slam final against one of the greatest. On Sunday, I’ll have a final against one of the other greatest. So we’ll see what happens, there’s no way to know right now which way it could go.

I don’t have a lot of pressure, because he’s never lost an Australian Open final. It’s him who’s under pressure, he’s the one who’s trying to catch Roger and Rafa. I have only experience to gain, he might have more to lose than me.

Set 3 Stats

Game, Set, Match: Daniil Medvedev beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-2, 7-5!

What does Stefanos Tsitsipas have left in the tank? It seemed for a brief moment that he could put together a comeback, but Medvedev shut it down in double quick time, and it’s now or never for Tsitsipas. Tsitsipas forces Medvedev into an error to make it 0-15, but then tamely hits the ball into the net for 15-15. Medvedev follows that up with a cross-court backhand winner and a big, big serve to give himself two match points. It’s all over, Daniil Medvedev will face Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open 2021 final, after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets!

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 6-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

What a response from Daniil Medvedev! The Russian manages to grind out a hold under some pressure from Tsitsipas, before winning three huge points with excellent shot-making to give himself a bunch of break points in a crucial game. He can’t convert the first one, Tsitsipas forces him wide, and then hits a smash on his high lob. And Medvedev gets the break with a gorgeous backhand down the line which whizzes past Tsitsipas! He’ll now serve for a spot in the final!

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 4-5 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Tsitsipas is really racing towards the net at every opportunity, and he gets the first point on his serve with a delightful volley. A winner and an error from Medvedev make it 30-15. Medvedev seems to have regained a bit of momentum though, he unleashes a furious cross court forehand winner to make it 30-30, before hitting a return wide. Tsitsipas has game point, but he meekly double faults, and it’s deuce. Tsitsipas wins the next two points with ease, and holds. Medvedev will serve to stay in the set.

Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 6-2, 4-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas* (*denotes next server)

A miscued backhand from Tsitsipas almost nails a supporter right on the noggin, before Medvedev hits an ace. The Russian then hits one into the crowd, and a very happy member of the audience proudly holds up the ball to show he’s taken a good catch. The slow mo replay proves it, it was a spectacular one-hander. Couple of points for Tsitsipas, and he has a breakpoint. Medvedev deals with promptly, firing an ace past the Greek youngster. Another ace, and Medvedev has advantage. A mistake from Tsitsipas and Medvedev holds. That felt like a big moment.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 3-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

The crowd has now abandoned all pretense of being unbiased and it seems to have rattled Medvedev a bit, who loses a string of points on his serve to give Tsitsipas his first break points of the evening. Another mistake by Daniil Medvedev sees Tsitsipas break for the first time tonight, and the crowd erupts in applause, it’s getting quite raucous in here. Is this too little too late from Tsitsipas? The Greek wins the first two points of his service game, and the crowd is cheering deliriously for every point. It’s like a football match, and Medvedev is like the referee, a target of universal hatred. Tsitsipas holds, and Medvedev, for the first time, looks a bit unsure.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 3-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

The Rod Laver DJ is playing I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas, but I’m sure Tsitsipas does not feel like it’s going to be a good night at the moment. Medvedev blitzes through his service game, it’s taking him next to no time to hold serve. Tsitsipas drops the first points on his serve by hitting a couple of shots long, and the second of those nearly ended up in the first row of seats. 0-30. He forces Medvedev into making a couple of mistakes though, 30-30. An attempted forehand then goes wrong and the ball flies upwards off of Tsitsipas’ racquet to give Medvedev break point, but he cannot convert, deuce. Advantage Medvedev, Tsitsipas hits wide. Ace, and it’s back to deuce. Medvedev tries to lob a ball over Tsitsipas, but he cannot get enough on it, and the Greek star unleashes a smash. A mistake from Medvedev means Tsitsipas just about holds.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 2-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

It’s too easy for Medvedev at the moment, and you can’t help thinking Novak Djokovic is probably looking at this with a sense of apprehension. Medvedev holds to love thanks to a couple of big serves. Tsitsipas’ breathing is quite laboured, he looks exhausted, and who wouldn’t be after playing a five-setter against Rafael Nadal. He does well in his service game to hold 40-15, but it’s a long road back from here.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Just a couple of days ago, Stefaos Tsitsipas played the best tennis of his life to beat Rafael Nadal, despite being two sets down. Today, he’s going to have to reproduce that yet again. From early signs in the third set, it looks unlikely. Medvedev gets the early break, and Stefanos looks really out of sorts. He’s struggling here, there’s not much juice in the tank.

There’s no love lost between these two

Set 2 Stats (Look at that first serve win percentage )

Second set: Daniil Medvedev wins 6-2!

It’s incredible that Daniil Medvedev is yet to face a single break point in this match. He begins his service game with an ace, before a couple of errors from Tsitsipas gives him three set points. Medvedev seals the second set with an ace, and puts himself just one set away from the Australian Open final!

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 5-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Daniil Medvedev is up double break! He is absolutely dominating this match at the moment, and Stefanos Tsitsipas just has no answer for what is being thrown at him. After holding his serve with ease, the Russian actually manages to break Tsitsipas to love and give himself what looks like an unassailable lead in this set. He will now serve for the second set.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 3-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Good opening combination from Tsitsipas sees him take the first point of his service game with a forehand winner. He double faults to make it 15-15. His body language looks off, and there’s no real energy to his game at the moment. He misses a forehand down the line, and Medvedev is up 15-30. Ace from Tsitsipas at the right time though, 30-30. Another huge serve, and he has game point. He holds serve with a moment of real creativity, as he deftly dinks a Medvedev return over the net.

Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas* (*denotes next server)

Huge couple of first serves from Daniil Medvedev, he’s 30-0 in the blink of an eye. He misses the first serve on his third try, but he really goes for it with the second serve, and gets the point. A mistake from Tsitsipas means a quickfire hold to love for the Russian.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 2-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Daniil Medevdev gets the early break in the second set! The Russian holds serve with relative ease against Stefanos Tsitsipas, before pushing his opponent to the limits. The Russian simply looks much more assured, and he’s winning a lot of the longer rallies in the game, while the Greek star is looking more and more out of his depth. Tsitsipas chucks a bottle of water on the ground at the changeover, and you can understand why he’s feeling frustrated.

Daniil Medvedev* 6-4, 0-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

An error apiece makes it 15-15, before an overhead from Stefanos Tsitsipas gives him a 30-15 lead. His backhand has let him down at times in the match so far, and it does so yet again, as he hits it wide. 30-30. Big serve from Tsitsipas, and Medvedev’s lofted return is deftly volleyed for a winner. Tsitsipas then shanks a forehand, it’s deuce and Medvedev is really applying some pressure here. Serve out wide from Stefanos, and Medvedev can’t return it, advantage to Tsitsipas, who holds with a forehand winner down the line.

Set 1 Stats

Set 1: Daniil Medvedev wins 6-4!

Can Stefanos Tsitsipas do what he hasn’t even come close to managing so far and break Daniil Medvedev? Medvedev begins with an ace. 15-0. He hits a backhand long though, it’s 15-15. Tsitsipas fails to return a forehand, 30-15. Another big serve from Medvedev, and he has two set points. Down to one set point, his forehand down the line lands yards outside the court. Another error from Medvedev and it’s deuce! Big serve from Daniil, he has advantage. The crowd’s really pulling for Stefanos here, and maybe that throws Medvedev off his game a bit. He double faults, it’s back to deuce. Ace, advantage Medvedev. Another big serve, the set goes to the Russian!

Daniil Medvedev* 5-4 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Stefanos Tsitsipas begins his service game by relinquishing a point, before winning two in quick succession to make it 30-15. He then double faults at a very inopportune moment, to make it 30-30. He does well to force Medvedev into a mistake, but then makes another backhand error to bring the game to deuce. Tsitsipas rights that backhand almost immediately though, firing a backhand winner down the line after pushing Medvedev wide. A serve down the middle ensures he’s still in this first set, but Medvedev will now serve for it.

Daniil Medvedev 5-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas* (*denotes next server)

Great service game from Daniil Medvedev, he’s alternating between serving out wide and then going down the middle, a strategy that seems to be outfoxing his younger opponent, at least for the moment. He holds serve with ease, and Tsitsipas will serve to stay in this first set.

Daniil Medvedev* 4-3 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

There’s a hold apiece for both players, but it’s Medvedev who looks a lot more assured right now. Stefanos, on the other hand, might be a bit rattled by being broken. Sidenote, we’ve barely begun the match, but Medvedev has already got the crowd booing him. I doubt he’ll mind it much though, he thrives in the role of the antagonist.

Daniil Medvedev* 3-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Big couple of serves from Tsitsipas, both are placed right down the centre of the court and Medvedev can’t reach either. A couple of errors then make it 30-30 in the game, and it’s the first bit of pressure Stefanos Tsitsipas has been put under so far. He fails to get a forehand over the net on the next point and Daniil Medvedev has break point. Another big serve from Tsitsipas, and it’s deuce. A short rally ends with a blistering Daniil Medvedev backhand winner down the line, and he has his second break point of the game. An error from Tsitsipas, and Medvedev draws first blood!

Daniil Medvedev 2-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas* (*denotes next server)

Stefanos Tsitsipas tries to end a 25 shot rally with a drop shot, but it has a bit too much bounce on it, and Medvedev gets to it in time to hit a backhand winner down the line. So far, it’s looking like both players are more or less evenly match, neither looks close to threatening the other’s serve. Medvedev holds to love.

Daniil Medvedev* 1-2 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Tsitsipas starts off by serving out wide, and then making Medvedev chase after the ball at the other end, before racing towards the net and calmly volleying into the open court. Medvedev claws back a couple of points, but Tsitsipas isn’t too worried, it’s a comfortable hold

Daniil Medvedev 1-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas* (*denotes next server)

Medvedev begins his first service game with a delightful one-two combo, pushing his opponent out wide and then hitting a forehand winner into the empty side of the court. An error apiece makes it 30-15. Tsitsipas hits a forehand long, and Medvedev then wraps up the game with a backhand winner that’s just out of the Greek star’s reach.

Daniil Medvedev* 0-1 Stefanos Tsitsipas (*denotes next server)

Stefanos Tsitsipas gets us underway after winning the toss and opting to serve, and it’s Medvedev who wins the first point of the match, after a Tsitsipas forehand flies long. 15-15 now, as Medvedev is unable to get a backhand return over the net. Three more errors in a row from the Russian see Stefanos hold serve.

Both players are out onto the court!

Here’s how the pair’s past encounters have played out!

Who are you backing to win today’s match-up? Let us know down below!

Stefanos Tsitsipas faces Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the final of the Australian Open. Medvedev leads the head-to-head 5-1 but Tsitsipas won their most recent contest.

Who are you backing?#AUSOpen Live: https://t.co/GpzU2xfZnD

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) February 19, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ path to the semi-final!

Daniil Medvedev’s path to the semi-final!

Daniil Medvedev has a pretty good record against Stefanos Tsitsipas

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Australian Open Semi-final!

There’s just the one match on display today, as Stefanos Tsitsipas faces Daniil Medvedev for a place in the Australian Open final, where eight-time winner Novak Djokovic awaits. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest updates!