Australian Open LIVE: Daniil Medvedev vs Stefanos Tsitsipas tennis result after Rafael Nadal reaches final
Follow all the latest updates from the Australian Open men’s semi-finals where Daniil Medvedev faced Stefanos Tsitsipas
Follow live reaction from the Australian Open men’s semi-finals as Daniil Medvedev defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets to set up a final against Rafael Nadal on Sunday.
Medvedev is aiming to win his second successive grand slam title following his victory at the US Open in September and the Russian overcame a meltdown at the end of the second set to defeat Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1 in two and a half hours. After edging the opening set on a tiebreak, Tsitsipas hit back to break Medvedev in the second set, before he launched into a furious rant at the umpire after being incensed by what he perceived to be persistent on-court coaching by Tsitsipas’s father.
However, the world No 2 regained his composure and produced his best tennis of the match to break Tsitsipas in the final game of the third set before running away with the fourth. Medvedev, who apologised to the umpire following the match, is bidding to become the first man in the Open area to win a second grand slam title immediately after winning his first, and he will face another man who is aiming to make history in Sunday’s final.
Earlier on Friday, Nadal remained on course to win a record-breaking 21st men’s grand slam title as he defeated Matteo Berrettini in four sets. It was billed as a tough match for the 35-year-old, but his victory was emphatic and marks his first appearance in a final at a major since winning the French Open in 2020.
Follow for live reaction and scores from the semi-final matches:
Medvedev sets up Nadal final after bad-tempered semi-final win
Daniil Medvedev overcame a mid-match meltdown to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas and set up an Australian Open final clash with Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev’s 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory means he will play for a second successive grand slam title after his maiden success at the US Open last summer.
It is also the second year in a row he has made the final at Melbourne Park, having lost to Novak Djokovic 12 months ago.
But much of the attention will focus on Medvedev’s extraordinary rant at the umpire late in the second set, when he accused Tsitsipas of receiving coaching from his father Apostolos.
“I don’t think bad emotions help me too much,” he said afterwards. “Many times I lose the match because of this. As soon as I’d done it I was like, ‘That was a big mistake’, but I’m happy I managed to re-concentrate at the beginning of the third set. I tried my best and I’m happy it worked.”
Full report:
Daniil Medvedev sets up Rafael Nadal final meeting after bad-tempered semi-final win
Medvedev’s 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4 6-1 victory means he will play for a second successive grand slam title after his maiden success at the US Open last summer
Medvedev regrets outburst in Tsitsipas win
Daniil Medvedev expressed regret about his mid-match meltdown in his Australian Open semi-final victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, admitting: “I just lost it.”
Medvedev’s 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4 6-1 success means he will play for a second straight grand slam title after his maiden victory at the US Open last summer when he takes on Rafael Nadal on Sunday.
It is also the second year in a row he has made the final at Melbourne Park, having lost to Novak Djokovic 12 months ago.
But much of the attention will focus on Medvedev’s extraordinary rant at the umpire late in the second set, when he accused Tsitsipas of receiving coaching from his father Apostolos.
After double-faulting to drop serve and trail 5-4 and being given a warning for a visible obscenity by umpire Jaume Campistol, Medvedev began to scream at the official.
“His father can talk every point,” yelled the Russian. “Are you stupid? I’m talking to you, look at me. How can you be so bad in the semi-final of a grand slam?”
After Tsitsipas clinched the set, Medvedev had more words with Campistol regarding his coaching complaints, ending by calling the official a “small cat”.
“I think we can say it was funny, but I was definitely out of my mind,” said Medvedev later.
“I was not controlling myself any more about anything, and that’s actually why I’m really happy to win, because many matches like this I would go on just to do mistakes, because you lose your concentration a lot when you get in these heat-of-the-moment things.
“The next game, 15-40, I started terrible. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m just completely losing the fibre of this match’. I’m so happy that I managed to catch it really fast.”
The list of matches in which Medvedev has lost his cool is a long one, and the 25-year-old insisted it is something he is trying to improve.
“I regret it all the time because I don’t think it’s nice,” he said. “I know that every referee is trying to do their best.
“But tennis, we don’t fight with the fists, but tennis is a fight. It’s a one-on-one against another player. So I’m actually really respectful to players who almost never show their emotions because it’s tough. I can get really emotional. I have been working on it.
“So many, many matches, I handle it. I think if we look back at myself five years ago when I started playing, there was less attention on me, but I was just insanely crazy. So I do regret it 100 per cent but, in the heat of the moment, I just lost it.”
Medvedev rants at umpire in Tsitsipas win
Daniil Medvedev launched into a furious rant at the umpire during his Australian Open semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Russian, who had just lost the second set in a razor-tight contest, was incensed by what he perceived to be persistent on-court coaching by Tsitsipas’s father.
At the change of ends, Medvedev turned to Jaume Campistol and shouted: “Are you mad? Can his father talk every point? Are you stupid?
“Oh my God, you are so bad. How can you be so bad in the semi-final of a grand slam? Look at me! I’m talking to you!”
Medvedev, who is attempting to follow up victory at the US Open in September in Melbourne, then asked Campistol to issue a code violation to Tsitsipas for illegal coaching: “If you don’t, you are... how can I call it... a small cat.”
Medvedev went on to win the match in four sets to book his place in Sunday's showpiece against Rafael Nadal.
When is the Australian Open women’s final and how can I watch it in the UK?
Ashleigh Barty will look to become the first Australian to win an Australian Open singles title since 1978 when she face Danielle Collins in the final on Saturday.
Barty, the world number one and tournament favourite, has already become the first Australian woman to reach the final of the country’s home Grand Slam since 1980 after she defeated Madison Keys 6-1 6-3 on Thursday to continue her dominant form at Melbourne Park.
The 25-year-old, who has previously won French Open and Wimbledon titles, is yet to drop a set and has lost just 21 games in the tournament as she aims to end Australian’s long wait for a singles champion on home soil.
She will play Collins, who reached her first Grand Slam final with a stunning 6-4 6-1 victory over Iga Swiatek in other semi-final. The 28-year-old American, who is ranked 30th in the world, has returned to the top of the game following endometriosis surgery last spring.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.
When is the Australian Open women’s final and how can I watch it in the UK?
All the information you need to know ahead of the Australian Open women’s final
Emotional Nadal feared tennis career was over
Rafael Nadal shed tears of happiness and disbelief after going from doubts about his future in tennis to the Australian Open final in little over a month.
The 35-year-old defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena to reach his sixth Melbourne final and 29th overall at a slam.
Victory on Sunday would see Nadal surpass his great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and become the first man to win 21 grand slam titles.
Yet for much of the last six months he was unsure whether he would even be able to play competitively again as a long-standing foot problem worsened dramatically and did not improve.
“I went through a lot of challenging moments, a lot of days of hard work without seeing a light there,” said Nadal.
Emotional Rafael Nadal feared tennis career was over before Australian Open run
The 35-year-old defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach his 29th grand slam final
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas reflects on defeat to Medvedev
“A loss is a loss. I’m a person who tries to fight until the last point but he played better. He played good tennis. I’m able to take only the best out of it - I won’t focus on the negatives. I’ve got a long season ahead of me with a lot of opportunities that I’m going to try and grab. I will always work towards improving mentally, physically, and improve my game generally. I see today’s performance as a lesson that I will use to move forward.”
Australian Open 2022: Medvedev sets up Nadal final
Daniil Medvedev faces an opponent in Rafael Nadal who feels he has nothing to lose on Sunday after coming back from a six-month injury layoff.
An emotional Nadal told Eurosport: “The people from outside, it’s difficult to believe. But the people who are next to me and lived my diary, conditions for the last six months, they find it difficult to understand that I can play at this level right now. It’s difficult to explain but I feel lucky just playing tennis.
“I’m playing with a great attitude, positive feelings and I’m feeling alive again in terms of competitive spirit. I missed that feeling. The pressure is not much for me now. I never believed that I would have the chance to be here today so I am enjoying every moment.”
Australian Open 2022: Medvedev sets up Nadal final
Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Nadal have faced each other four times, with Nadal winning three of those meetings.
That includes the final of the US Open in 2019 - Medvedev’s first grand slam final appearance, but one which saw him come back from two sets down before Nadal sealed a 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 victory.
Medvedev won their most recent victory, though, a 3-6 7-6 6-3 victory in the last four of the ATP Finals.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 Medvedev - Game, set and match!
Daniil Medvedev:
“To be honest I don’t think bad emotions help me too much. When I made it, many times I lose the match because of this. You lose concentration. You lose too much energy. As soon as I’ve done it, I thought, ‘That was a big mistake.’ But I’m happy I managed to get my concentration back in the third set. Down 15-40 I pulled off some serves and it got me back into the match.
“We were even and there were some moments where I missed when I could have had the break, he missed a few at the beginning of the third. And then at 5-4 I found some momentum on his serve to get every ball in and make some passing shots. His energy went down after this and mine went up.
“After the match with Felix [in the quarter-finals] I spoke with my coach and said ‘how do I do this?’ I was dead but I tried to do the recovery well. The next day I wasn’t too bad. To be honest I was more tired than usual but I’m happy today was not five hours so I can look forward to the next one.
“I’m going to play once again against one of the greatest. What’s funny is that again I’m going to play someone going for the 21st Slam [after beating Djokovic in New York]. I think Novak will be watching this one in two days also. Grand slam finals are always special and I played Rafa in my first at the US Open and we played five hours. We’ve played a few matches since then but I am ready to show my best.”
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6 Medvedev - Game, set and match!
Stunning. The backhand down the line proves decisive again as Medvedev brings up three match points thanks to a couple of stunning winners.
Medvedev seals the match with another backhand winner planted on the line. The handshake between the players is not overly warm, but that was a commanding fourth set from Medvedev and Tsitsipas could not match his level after the world number two stepped it up in the third and fourth.
He will play Rafael Nadal on Sunday in a mouth-watering final. History will be made one way or another. Nadal is going for a record-breaking 21st grand slam title while Medvedev will be looking to become the first man in the Open era to win a second grand slam title immediately after winning his first.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments