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:
Australian Open 2022: *Tsitsipas 1-1 Medvedev
Medvedev gets the better of Tsitsipas in the first lengthy rally of the match, as the Greek nets following an exchange of backhand slices. Medvedev returns to the Tsitsipas backhand in the next point and is greeted by the same result, before he gets his first first serve of the match to move to 40-0. Tsitsipas goes long and Medvedev gets a hold of love for his own.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas 1-0 Medvedev*
A very solid opening service game from Tsitsipas, holding to love after a couple of forehands from Medvedev sail long. He got three out of four first serves in play.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
Route to the semi-finals
Tsitsipas
- R1: 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 vs Ymer
- R2: 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 vs Baez
- R3: 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 vs Paire
- R4: 4-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 vs Fritz
- QF: 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 vs Sinner
Medvedev
- R1: 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 vs Laaksonen
- R2: 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 vs Kyrgios
- R3: 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 vs van de Zandschlup
- R4: 6-2, 7-6, 6-7, 7-5 vs Cressy
- QF: 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 vs Auger-Aliassime
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev ins the toss and elects to receive, so Stefanos Tsitsipas will serve first after the warm-ups.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
Tsitsipas and Medvedev are both doing their final stretches in the tunnel ahead of the start of the second semi-final of the day.
But, as I write that, the two players pick up their bags and emerge out onto the Rod Laver Arena.
Here. We. Go.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
The origins of the Medvedev - Tsitsipas beef dates back to their first meeting at the Miami Open in 2018, when both players were still ranked outside the top 50.
Medvedev won the match in three sets but had been annoyed by Tsitsipas taking a lengthy toilet break before the decider. Tsitsipas is said to have muttered “Bulls--t Russian,” after shaking hands at the net, with Medvedev firing back “Man you better shut your f--- up,” in an iconic tennis line.
Tensions have cooled since, with both players becoming established in the top five, but they could spark back into life at any moment if this semi-final gets heated.
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
Medvedev was involved in the match of the tournament so far in the previous round as he battled past Felix Auger-Aliassime from two sets and match point down to advance to the semi-finals.
In doing so, Medvedev revealed that he had been inspired by the fighting spirit of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to spark a comeback, as the Russian attempts to emulate tennis’ big three by becoming the first player to win back-to-back grand slams since they all achieved the feat.
"I've played more times with Novak, like when I started to be good, Rafa and Roger got a little bit injured from time to time so I had more matches with Novak, more practices when I was younger and yeah, some matches he won, some matches I won," Medvedev said.
"Some matches I watched him in the Grand Slams, being two sets to love down with Tsitsipas and Musetti in Roland Garros.
"I was there between the sets and as I say, zero confidence in myself and the outcome of the match. I was like, what would the best players in the world do?
"During all the matches, as soon as I was done a little bit, I was like: Just be like Novak. Show him that you are better. And it won't work every time, because again, he had a match point."
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
Tsitsipas is coming off his best performance of the tournament having found his best form to defeat the in-form Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Tsitsipas came into the Australian Open with uncertainty over his form and fitness following elbow surgery and has come through some tight matches, especially his fourth-round victory over Taylor Fritz.
Young Italian Sinner, seeded 11th, was expected to provide Tsitsipas with his biggest challenge of the fortnight but the Greek was in total control from the start and eased to a 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory on Wednesday.
It is the third time in three years that the 23-year-old has made the last four and he will look to emulate his run at the French Open last summer, when he reached his first final before losing to Novak Djokovic.
“We’re just getting started,” Tsitsipas said post-match. “It’s too early to decide whether it was [my best match in 2022] or not, but it was a great performance from start to finish with no doubt and a clear game plan.
“So far it has been the most consistent and the best match I’ve had on the tournament. knew I was going to face a Jannik who was hungry and who wants to show his best out there.
“I was really fired up myself to bring the best out of my game today, and I tried to get my level as high as possible because I knew that I need to form that kind of standard from early on.”
Australian Open 2022: Tsitsipas vs Medvedev
After Rafael Nadal progressed to a sixth Australian Open final after progressing past Matteo Berrettini, attention now turns to the second semi-final of the day between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev.
It’s set to be another cracker, as Tsitsipas looks to advance to what would be a second grand slam final and Medvedev aims to continue his bid to win back-to-back majors following his US Open win in September.
And to add to the drama, Tsitsipas and Medvedev have a frosty relationship, having clashed on the court earlier in their careers.
“We haven’t really spoken in the last couple of months, but our relationship is competitors on the court and kind of fighting for the same dream,” Tsitsipas said ahead of his ninth career meeting with Medvedev. The Russian has won six of those meetings, including the semi-finals here last year.
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