Daniil Medvedev, left, of Russia is congratulated by Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece following their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Simon Baker)Australian Open 2022 Men’s Singles Semifinals, Berrettini vs Nadal, Tsitsipas vs Medvedev Highlights: Daniil Medvedev will play Rafa Nadal for the Australian Open title on Sunday after a stirring victory over Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-final on Friday.
Nadal stands one win away from a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title after overpowering Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Friday to reach the Australian Open final. With rain pouring down outside, the 35-year-old Nadal made a fast start under the closed roof of the Rod Laver Arena and took control by breaking Wimbledon finalist Berrettini’s serve early in each of the first two sets. Berrettini finally came alive in the third and started forcing Nadal back with his forehands, a break of serve forcing a fourth set. The Spaniard got the crucial break in the eighth game as the Italian’s unforced errors increased and another mistake allowed Nadal to convert his first matchpoint after a battle that lasted two hours and 55 minutes. (Read Full Report)
Meanwhile, the Russian world number two reached the Australian Open decider for the second year in succession by defeating Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1. Medvedev had to save a match point and rally from two sets down in the quarterfinals late Wednesday and had another emotional match against Tsitsipas two days later. He yelled at the chair umpire after dropping serve in the second set and demanded that Tsitsipas be cautioned for receiving coaching from his father in the crowd. Medvedev lost the set, took a five-minute break and returned with more composure. He converted a crucial service break late in the third set and he won the last five games to wrap it up.
It is Nadal vs Medvedev in the final! World No. 2 Medvedev fights past Tsitsipas in four-set thriller 7-6 4-6 6-4 6-1 to make his second consecutive final. Medvedev is into his fourth career Grand Slam final. The Russian will face Nadal in a rematch of their classic 2019 US Open title bout.
It may not all be over for Tsitsipas. A double-fault from Medvedev makes it 15-15. Medvedev closes on the finish line with another great serve.
Daniil Medvedev is relentless, breaks! He leads Stefanos Tsitsipas by two sets to one, and by 3-1 in the fourth. It feels like Tsitsipas is losing some intensity, match slipping away from his hands.
Medvedev holds to open up the fourth. The rallies are getting shorter.
After a clean serving set from both players, Medvedev surges to earn triple set point on return—and converts his second chance for a two-sets-to-one lead over Tsitsipas. Medvedev gains the advantage once more, breaking Tsitsipas to take the third set 6-4. The semi-final swings in Medvedev's favour once more.
Another booming wide serve seals the hold for the Greek player. No sign of Tsitsipas beginning to feel any pressure just yet. He gets up and running with an ace, moving to 40-0 before an over-hit forehand gives Medvedev a point. Tsitsipas finishes things off with little fuss.
The 3rd set is begging for a break in serve. Tsitsipas with a gorgeous angled volley on deuce. Big serve out wide opens the court up on another deuce. Tsitsipas holds after Medvedev sends the forehand return long
Tsitsipas cracks a sublime forehand down the line and then hammers down his fourth ace of the match to make it 2-2 and all square in the third set.
A booming wide serve by Tsitsipas seals his latest hold. It's a set all and a game all. Some intense action along with drama underway in Melbourne.
Medvedev with yet another double fault and he is facing two break points at the start of the third set. Comes back with some serves to hold in the end.
Tsitsipas levels the intriguing semifinal against Medvedev by claiming the second set 6-4 after dropping the first. At deuce, a phenomenal rally and some phenomenal defence from Medvedev ends with a clean winner from Tsitsipas, who then seals the game and the set.
At the end of the set, Medvedev said that if the umpire doesn’t take action: “You are ... how can I call it? A small cat.”
Daniil Medvedev is screaming at umpire Jaume Campistol. "Are you mad? Can his father can 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!"
Serving at 4-4, 30-30, Medvedev overcooks a mid-court forehand, then overcooks a second serve. The double fault gives Tsitsipas a chance to even this semifinal at one set all.
Medvedev ain't going anywhere and neither is Tsitsipas.
Returns in play. Medvedev: 74% Tsitsipas: 50%
Tsitsipas has some advantages in this match but he needs to get past that initial serve-return in order to use them. Tsitsipas needed to hold on to that break with everything! It's been difficult getting points off Medvedev's serve and he was fortunate to get that break.
Tsitsipas holds his nerve to see off both points, Medvedev narrowly missing the line as the tension ramped began to ramp up in the rally. Deuce.
After Medvedev holds to love, Tsitsipas shakes off his tiebreak slip-up and races to a 3-1 second-set lead with another hold of serve.
Tsitsipas consolidates the break with a comfortable hold with his first ace of the match. The Greek drops a point and is up and running on serve, similar to the first set.
A good start for Tsitsipas in the second set. He takes his opponent’s serve to 30-30. Medvedev with a horrible forehand long and wide and it’s break point! Tsitsipas wears Medvedev down by working him around the court relentlessly and breaks at the opening of the second set
What a nail-biting tie-breaker this has been! Trailing 4-1 in the first-set tiebreak, Daniil Medvedev wins six of the next seven points to take a lead over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals. The first set goes Daniil Medvedev's way.
After 22 straight points on serve, Medvedev loses his first but holds comfortably in the end to force a tiebreak.