Australian Open Highlights, men's semi-finals: Medvedev beats Tsitsipas, faces Nadal in final

Here’s the winning moment

The return of @DaniilMedwed 🇷🇺

The world No.2 is back in the #AusOpen men’s singles final, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1.

🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/wHpouY2PTk

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022

Third set: Daniil Medvedev 6-4

After both players had near-perfect serve efforts in the third set, Medvedev makes Tsitsipas pay for an errant game in the 10th. Converts second of three set points and he is two sets to one up

Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 4-6 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Tsitsipas serving to stay in the third set. Medvedev with a gorgeous drop shot out of nowhere, catches Tsitsipas off guard completely. Follows it up with a backhand pass with Stefanos moving up. At 0-30, Tsitsipas sends his forehand wide. And that is three set points. One saved with a big serve and Medvedev doing too much with it. On the second, Medvedev smashes and Tsitsipas is unable to get it back. SET!

Greek police!

Cahill announces that now there's a tournament referee under the Tsitsipas box along with Eva Asderaki-Moore who is Greek

— The Body Serve Tennis Podcast (@TheBodyServe) January 28, 2022

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 6-4, 4-5 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

A love hold from Medvedev and he is going about his business comfortably and without fuss. Just the way he would like.

Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 4-4 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

After having his serve pushed in the previous game, a less stressful game this time around. Tsitsipas once again opening the court up with a serve out wide and closing the game out with a simple volley

Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 3-3 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Tsitsipas with a gorgeous angled volley on deuce. That was some shot and he’s been exceptional at the net the entire match. But Medvedev keeps coming back, forgetting the point, forgetting his frustration earlier. Thumping forehand and Tsitsipas is unable to get the ball back. On to deuce again. Big serve out wide opens the court up and the short reply is dispatched with disdain. Tsitsipas holds after Medvedev sends the forehand return long

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 6-4, 2-3 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Stepping away from the feline references, it is on serve in the third set so far.

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 6-4, 0-1 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Medvedev with yet another double fault and he is facing two break points at the start of the third set. Comes back with some huge, huge serves to hold in the end.

Set 2 in numbers

Medvedev unraveling at the close of the second set

Daniil Medvedev asks chair umpire Jaume Campistol to issue a code violation to Stefanos Tsitsipas for illegal coaching: "If you don't, you are... how can I call it... a small cat"#AusOpen Live: https://t.co/Nsi4Df4fMq pic.twitter.com/xWQRIIoXpj

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) January 28, 2022

Second set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4

Stefanos Tsitsipas makes it one set all! Daniil Medvedev with a miserable serve effort in the ninth game and Tsitsipas comes back to hold on the third set point chance. That was a very dramatic end to the set

Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Two set points come and go for Stefanos Tsitsipas. Medvedev channeling his anger into aggression and putting pressure on Stefanos. The Greek meanwhile gets a warning for time violation. On deuce, he brings the Rod Laver Arena to its feet with a huge forehand opening the court up and then smacks a forehand winner to bring up a third set point. Medvedev sends his forehand wide and that is the set for Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 5-4 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Medvedev goes for far too much, rushing into his shots and sends his forehand long at 30-30. Break point for Tsitsipas. And a double fault! Second double fault of the game. Medvedev berates the chair umpire: “Are you stupid? His father can talk every point! Can his father talk in every point? How can you be so bad in a Grand Slam semi-final? How are you not giving a coaching violation to him?”

What Daniil Medvedev is chasing

Medvedev is trying to become 2nd man in Open Era to win their first Major AND THEN reach the final of the next Major. The only man to do that in the Open Era is Murray, who won his first Major at the 2012 US Open then reached the 2013 Australian Open final (l. to Djokovic).

— Chris McKendry (@ChrisMcKendry) January 28, 2022

Tsitsipas 6-7, 3-3 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Tsitsipas moves up to the net and is unable to get a low, dipping volley up and over the net. Tsitsipas comes back with another massive forehand that catches Daniil off slightly. Luck of the net cord goes Daniil’s way once again. Followed by Tsitsipas looking to go behind Medvedev but hitting the net on the forehand. Two break points. On first serve, he looked to go wide but misses. On the second serve, Medvedev sends the return long. One more break point. And this one is saved too. Medvedev looks to find the sideline on the backhand cross but misses narrowly. This time it is Tsitsipas who errs on the backhand while looking to create the angle. Medvedev has a break point, he is 0/6 on them tonight. Big first serve down the T and Medvedev is unable to get it back. On deuce, Tsitsipas misses once again – on the forehand while looking for the sideline. Eighth break point for Daniil and fourth in the game. On second serve, Tsitsipas goes for far too much and is broken!

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 3-2 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Both players hardly giving away anything on their serve in the second set after that first break of the match. Tsitsipas with the advantage

Tsitsipas 6-7, 2-0 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Stefanos consolidates the break with a comfortable hold. Drops a point and is up and running on serve like in the first set

Tsitsipas* 6-7, 1-0 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

What a start to the second set for Stefanos Tsitsipas. After barely conceding points on his serve in the first, Medvedev is broken in the very first game of the second. On break point, Tsitsipas has Medvedev scrambling and the Russian seems to get his foot stuck at one stage. He tries to get to a ball on the other corner but there’s plenty of spin on it to race away.

First set: Daniil Medvedev 7-6

Medvedev takes the opening set 7-6 (5) with six of the last seven points on tiebreak. Both players stingy on serve for the large portion of the set before Medvedev had plethora of chances which he couldn’t convert.

Set 1 in numbers

Tiebreak

Another massive serve and Medvedev stays in it. And he makes it 4-4 with a forehand pass. Not enough on the volley by Stefanos and it just sat right up for the taking. Medvedev misses on the next point and not by much. Milimetres at best. And then finds the middle line on the next point by just 2mm. 5-5. Medvedev changes direction of the point with a backhand winner from the centre of the court. Set point, Medvedev. Tsitsipas goes for too much on the forehand and doesn’t find the sideline. Medvedev take the first set 7-6 (5)

Tiebreak

What a start to the tiebreak for Tsitsipas. He serves first and gets a quick point. On Medvedev’s serve, a lengthy rally ensues and Tsitsipas comes out on top with Daniil scrambling to get the ball back. Big first serves from both players to make it 3-1. Medvedev goes for too much on the backhand and Tsitsipas makes it 4-1. You would think these are the kind of rallies that Daniil would win. Medvedev with another big serve and the return goes long. At the change of ends, Tsitsipas is 4-2 up

Tsitsipas 6-6 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

After 22 straight points on serve, Medvedev with a mishit to lose his first of the night. But holds comfortably in the end to force a tiebreak

Tsitsipas 6-5 *Medvedev (* denotes next server)

After being tested and pushed all the way in his last serve, a love hold this time for Stefanos. He closes the game out with a brave drop shot that Medvedev has no chance of getting to.

Tsitsipas* 5-5 Medvedev (* denotes next server)

Medvedev with yet another love hold. He is yet to drop a point on serve tonight. Been exemplary serving

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

Medvedev gets two straight points now – first time either have been able to do it tonight. Tsitsipas moved up to the net again but didn’t have a simple volley to deal with. Medvedev runs forward and completes a simple pass. 0-30 and Medvedev has a chance. Make that a very good chance. 34 shot rally and Medvedev creates three break point chances with a forehand winner into the corner. Medvedev looks for the sideline but misses by a good margin. Stefanos with a better serve-and-volley approach this time. Serves out wide and plays the volley into open court. Another one saved! Tsitsipas with plenty of top spin on the backhand and lovely angle to have Medvedev scrambling and miss. At deuce, Tsitsipas goes for too much angle and doesn’t find the sideline. Fourth break point. And a big serve gets Stefanos out of the corner. Stefanos is pumped! Cross court forehand opens the court up and volley closes the point out. Stefanos unable to close the game out. Tsitsipas smacks the KIA logo on the net with his forehand. Tsitsipas moves forward again on an angled serve and closes the point with a volley. But Medvedev keeps chipping away. Runs forward to a drop shot and gently pushes it for a backhand winner. Back to deuce, fourth in the game. Tsitsipas with a massive off forehand to eke out an unreturnable shot. Tsitsipas holds! Gets out of a big logjam there

Great shot

That's a great slowmo 😍 pic.twitter.com/xyrztbJWS7

— Lorena Popa 🕵️‍♀️🎾 (@popalorena) January 28, 2022

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

First lengthy rally of the match comes at 30-15. Both players going hammer and tongs before Medvedev errs on the forehand.

Stat: Points dropped on serve – Medvedev 0, Tsitsipas 2.

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

The streak for points won by server ends in that game. Medvedev gets a lucky net chord winner but doesn’t stop Stefanos from holding with ease

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

Tsitsipas tries to mix things up with a drop shot but doesn’t pull it off. Medvedev with a love hold now. Sign of things to come?

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

Tsitsipas making his intentions pretty clear at the very start. On the first point of the match, he moved up to the net and played a deft drop volley. Continues the strategy and he holds to love once again

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

Now Medvedev with a straightforward love hold. Great start on serve for both players

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

A love hold to get things underway for Stefanos. The win predictor puts this match 72%-28% in favour of the Russian. Bit surprised how skewed it is. But then again, it is based on a poll and not based on any mathematical criteria

Medvedev vs Tsitsipas is underway

Stefanos Tsitsipas serving first and he gets the second semi-final underway

Road to the semi-final