DANIIL MEDVEDEV battled into a third Australian Open final Friday with a come-from-behind five-set defeat of Alexander Zverev to set up a title match against Jannik Sinner.
The never-say-die Russian third seed was in a precarious position on Rod Laver Arena but fought back to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 after four hours 18 minutes.
Ice-cool Italian Sinner will be awaiting him in Sunday’s title match after stunning defending champion Novak Djokovic in the other semi-final.
Medvedev has been to the final twice before, losing to Djokovic in 2021 and Rafael Nadal a year later.
It has been a long and arduous road to get back there, with the 27-year-old surviving two four-set battles and a pair of five-set matches before meeting Zverev.
But he proved once again to have the stamina, grinding down the sixth seed to keep alive his quest to collect a second Grand Slam title after winning the 2021 US Open.
He admitted he was “a little bit lost” in the opening two sets.
“But during the third set I just kept saying to myself that if I lose this match I just want to be proud of myself,” said the 27-year-old, who is into his sixth final at a major.
“I want to fight until the end, fight for every point. And I managed to win and I’m very proud.”
Both men opened with serves to love, but Medvedev then stuttered with two double faults, helping the German to his first break.
He collected another to race 4-1 clear with the Russian racking up too many unforced errors.
But Medvedev gradually began lifting his intensity and scored a double break to level at 5-5 as the match turned into a baseline slugfest.
A third break for Zverev allowed him the chance to serve for the set a second time and he came through a titanic tussle that included one epic rally of 51 shots and another of 40.
He drew first blood again in set two, converting a fourth break point in the fifth game.
The setback dented Medvedev’s resolve, with the German increasingly dictating the rallies, pushing him from corner to corner to consolidate and bank a two-set lead.
Medvedev stepped in slightly from his deep baseline position in the third set and it altered the dynamic, with a more aggressive net game pushing the set to a tiebreak that he won.
The fourth set went the way of the third, with nothing between the players until another tiebreak, when Zverev buckled on serve when two points away from the final.
An increasingly frustrated Zverev saved two break points in the fifth game of the deciding set before surrendering on a third with a netted forehand.
It put the Russian 3-2 ahead and he consolidated on serve, with no way back for Zverev.
Cmon Shane .
Sky sports
Can we please know what par the hole is before he hits his first shot.
Come on Dustin Johnson and do it for the golf purists.
Lowry bandwagon will be back again soon. In the meantime break out the Union Jack and follow McIlroy in the Olympics.
But the trolling bandwagon will roll on, in its self-pitying lonely journey through the dirty slums of its pathetic existence crying out for the attention it never got from Mommy.
And so it came to pass that John realised he had no friends and that trying to be controversial did not make him cool
I dont follow golf……but I know its serious when the42 has a live blog of a golf event.Hope he comes home as a champion!
Same here Irin..it would be a ‘Yuge’ achievement.
Live blog is the best way to watch golf
Cmon Shane. We need a win this weekend!!
He’s not representing his country, Not the same.
Most reds ever.
I bet there was some amount of candles lit in Clara Church at this mornings mass.
Even more rosery beads sold in the market this morning
Come on lowry kiiiiiiidddd!!
This is an absolute outrage from the USGA!! I’m all for Lowry to win, but I certainly wouldn’t begrudge Johnson a first major either but he’s being treated very unfairly here in my eyes.
Yeah, lousy by the USGA, they should do the right thing and disqualify him! Come on Shane!!
I think it’s unfair on all the players considering they have all allegedly been told what’s happening. It’s farcical at the moment though. Really stupid decision making by the USGA.
Unbelievable!
Monday lotto?!
Unbelievable!
John Hayes I really hope you get to eat humble pie
Don’t worry-you can get off the bandwagon at the next stop with all the rest.
John, you are a pathetic human being but I presume you post these comments because you derive pleasure from people thinking of you as pathetic. Congrats chief
Pity 3 x3 putts in a row Shane doesn’t deserve to win it now,had a four shot lead and couldn’t hold it,not good enough this week to win a major,maybe another time.
Its getting painful to watch now. Hope he can finish outright 2nd
What an athlete!!!!
Shane finishing off a typical weekend for Irish sports by choking when it matters
Im going to bed cant take anymore dreams dashed,
Hold on….Hang on a mo
This ain’t over yet by a long shot…………
Needs to take the initiative here Shane.
Waiting for the pack to slip up is not a good tactic.
Seize the day.
So is DJ on -5 or -4? They should make a ruling now, nobody knows what score the leader is on, it’s crazy!!
Not looking good now with that bogey on 10
and will paddy power pay out if he does?
Poor front 9 for Shane not helped by his partner who is having a mare,hopefully he can regroup.
Johnson’s partner Westwood had as big a mare.
Lowry all too often struggles on the last day, he’s just too out of shape and is at a clear disadvantage because of it.
Achieved far more than you ever will. And has a hell of a lot more friends I’m sure.
You can see the pressure on Shane’s face in those last couple of shots!
Poor show at the 14th there.
This is stupid make a decision already! Can’t see a penalty but man up.
Settle
G’wan Shaneo
Delighted for Dustin Johnson…. After all he’s been through over the years, I don’t think there’s a soul on earth who would deny him a major!
Bar Jason Dufner of course after Johnson ride his wife
Top European,joint second, toughest course you could play be proud you have to lose one to win won .
Johnson playing at a snails pace
FFS Shane. ……what are you doing man
Bottle job.
Bottle job is a kind way of putting it.
the irish rugby team bottled it against South Africa and now shane Lowry is doing the same.
He’s thrown in the towel all right.
No courage.
Ireland did not ‘bottle’ it. They were beaten by a much better and stronger bench and at a venue where only two teams have ever been South Africa. Nowhere do Ireland play rugby at nearly 6000ft on a regular basis. 7 of the South Africans play there every week.
Shane did not choke today. He missed a few long puts which left awkward 6/7/8 footers for par.
I think we need to get beyond this ‘choke’ and ‘bottle’ mentality here. It’s self-perpetuating.
Can’t find the Shane Lowry jersey anywhere online.
Back from weekend away,planned to celebrate Ireland test win over SA,didn’t happen,hoping for a draw against Belguim ,didnt happen,come on Shane !!!!pleeease
Unfortunately Shane Bottled it..
He’s still in it. My bet a tie with a play off.
Kinda ridiculous that they still haven’t made a ruling on the penalty stroke for Johnson.
Shane Lowry and others have been informed that he is facing a possible penalty so that’s bound to colour their psychology on the run in.
Best thing Shane can do now is ignore that ‘Rumour’ and play the tournament according to the official leaderboard.
Ireland vs. Belgium in football, vs. South Africa in rugby, and vs. the ROTW in one of the majors in golf, what a horribly disappointing weekend of sport for us, especially the latter two where we blew what should have been unassailable leads.
Short of getting in the car Nd driving to Clara where can I watch it without sky sports!?
Download Mobdro off internet onto your android phone or tablet and watch away
Bandwagon running rough?
Keep it going Shane