Their journey in Melbourne
Daniil Medvedev
.
After a serene entry into the tournament (against Pospisil, then Carballes Baena), the Russian trembled, pushed in straight sets by the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (n ° 28).
An electric shock which then allowed him to find rigor, going and method (against McDonald and especially Rublev, n ° 7 in the quarterfinals in a match controlled from A to Z).
Danill Medvedev points to the rendezvous of the semifinals sure of his strength and his game. He is aiming for a second Grand Slam final, after the US Open 2019, the match that had propelled him into another dimension.
In New York, at the end of a tournament which had revealed it in all its dimension (game and personality), he had erased two sets of delay against Rafael Nadal before giving in in 5 sets.
The tennis world knew that he would once again walk his slender profile and his counter game at these heights ...
Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Greek has flaunted his ambition and strength of character from the start.
After roughing up Gilles Simon, he resisted the dazzling return of the ghost Thanasi Kokkinakis, tamed in extremis.
His first victory in straight sets.
The Greek (seeded No.5) then dominated the Swede Mikael Ymer before taking advantage of Matteo Berrettini's package.
And in the quarterfinals he overthrew Rafael Nadal who had however pocketed the first two sets.
Showing the Spaniard the exit is never easy but when he has two sets in his pockets is quite an achievement.
It is with this confidence but with a little fatigue in his socks that Stefanos Tsitsipas advances to his third Grand Slam semi-final.
Hoping to finally push the doors of a major final.
Face to face
Daniil Medvedev (24 years old; n ° 4) leads 5 wins to 1 in the matches played since 2018 but it was Stefanos Tsitsipas (22 years old; n ° 5) who won in the last meeting, in the group stage of the Masters in 2019, in London.
The Russian and the Greek crossed paths that once in the Grand Slam, at the US Open in the 1st round in 2018, Medvedev had won in 4 sets.
And like every time since an electric match in Miami in 2018, the match had been disputed.
What they think of each other
Daniil Medvedev:
“Stefanos is an incredible player, he has a big serve, a nice volley.
It is difficult to play.
I think he's improving physically because two years ago you could tell that out of five sets maybe it wasn't so bad to play him.
I don't think that's the case at the moment. ”
Stefanos Tsistispas:
“Medvedev, it's going to be a difficult task.
He's in great shape, he plays tennis well, he's precise, he plays simple.
I could have said in the past that he plays boringly, but I don't think he plays boringly.
He just plays extremely smart and gets past you.
I really have to be careful, take my chances and put the pressure on. ”
Novak Djokovic's eye on the duel
Installed in the final after his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory against Russian Aslan Karatsev (27 years old, 114th in the world), from the qualifications, Novak Djokovic eight-time winner in Melbourne (and two-time defending champion) observes the duel of the new wave, he who will have an additional day of rest before the final, this Sunday: “These two guys are in great shape.
Medvedev plays with an extremely high level.
He's on a streak of over 20 games won.
He's the man to beat.
Tsitsipas produced phenomenal tennis against Rafa (Nadal).
Coming back from losing two sets to Rafa in a Grand Slam, any Grand Slam, is a huge effort.
These two guys have a story between them on and off the court so I'm sure there will be a lot of intensity.
It's a big rivalry between them, I think.
I'm going to watch this game and enjoy it. ”
Read also
Australian Open: Men's results