[ad_1]
Andy Brownbill / AP
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev backhand returns Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas during their semi-final match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne on Friday night.
Tactical master Daniil Medvedev has given Stefanos Tsitsipas another tennis lesson, sending the Greek in straight sets to line up a tasty final Australian Open showdown with Novak Djokovic.
The Russian fourth seed continued its dominance over Tsitsipas, apparently having the ball on a rope for much of Friday night in a 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 victory at Rod Laver Arena.
NINE
Bernard Tomic responded to the Australian great John Fitzgerald after his defeat in the second round of the Australian Open.
The pair had some history, exchanging insults on the court in 2018 and shooting ever since, but there was no obvious acrimony in the two hours and 12 minutes of demolition.
It extends Medvedev’s record against Tsitsipas to 6-1 and continues the 25-year-old Muscovite’s phenomenal 20-game undefeated streak on tour.
READ MORE:
* Djokovic ends Karatsev’s dream career to reach the ninth Australian Open final, says recovery from injury surprised him
* Australian Open: Stefanos Tsitsipas wins the decisive match of his career against Rafael Nadal
* At the Australian Open, players can reveal or hide injuries.
While world number one Djokovic will be a huge favorite to finish that golden stretch as he pursues his ninth Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, the Serb is unlikely to have great fears for Medvedev, who has won three of his last four meetings.
Medvedev said that all the pressure was on Djokovic in the final.
“I think he’s the favorite because he didn’t lose. Eight times he was here in the semi-finals, he won the tournament,” Medvedev said.
“I … I don’t know what it’s called in English, not a stranger, but I’m the challenger, the guy who challenges the one who was eight times in the final and won eight times. And I’m happy about that.
“I think if we talk in general, I have nothing to lose.”
Hamish Blair / AP
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas returns from right to Russian Daniil Medvedev during their semi-final match at the Australian Open tennis championship.
Tsitsipas looked like a shadow of the heroic figure who beat Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, only the second time the great Spaniard had been defeated in a grand slam after winning the first two sets.
Heavy on the legs, Tstispas’ generally relaxed all-court play looked awkward as Medvedev blocked him with devastating passes, particularly from the backhand wing.
He only took a break to secure the first set in 41 minutes, Medvedev then ticking things off a bit more in the second.
Medvedev dropped six aces with a staggering 84 percent accuracy on serve during the set, while Tsitsipas struggled with his own delivery to break twice.
Matt King / Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev of Russia plays a forehand in his men’s singles semi-final match against Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.
Any thoughts of a Nadal-style comeback seemed to be extinguished with an early break against Tsitsipas in the third, but, inspired by an athletic crush and a partisan crowd, the No. 5 seed rose again.
However, a break back was the best, Medvedev hit an exquisite backhand at the line 15-40 and 5-5 with Tsitsipas serve, before closing the game.
When asked what had made Medvedev so difficult to beat, Tsitsipas seemed lost, but somehow perfectly aware at the same time.
“Everyone saw what just happened; I’m the last person you should ask this to,” he said.
“I was focused on my game, and he launched his show.
“He became Daniil Medvedev for three straight sets.”
It marks the second Grand Slam final for Medvedev, who was outscored in five sets by Nadal in the deciding match of the 2019 US Open.
He has won the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the ATP Cup as part of his winning streak and has beaten every man in the top 10 since November except for the injured Roger Federer.
