Daniil Medvedev (#4) produced some exquisite shot-making and was relentless to subdue a partisan crowd at the Rod Laver Arena, surviving a late third set wobble to win 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) – booking his place in Sunday’s final against defending champion Novak Djokovic, extending his win streak to 20 tour matches in just over two hours.
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Tag: Rafael Nadal
Australian Open 2021: Barty knocked out, Tsitsipas’ resiliency helps him topple Nadal
World number one Ashleigh Barty was stunned in three sets against Karolina Muchova (#25), second seed Rafael Nadal relinquished a two-set advantage as Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) ended his tournament after a gruelling four-hour battle, while there were big wins for Daniil Medvedev (#4) and Jennifer Brady (#22) elsewhere on another unpredictable day of tennis in Melbourne.
Australian Open 2021: Injuries, retirements overshadow Day 8 as more quarter-finals set
Casper Ruud was forced to retire midway through his first fourth-round match at a Grand Slam, no. 9 seed Matteo Berrettini didn’t take to court against Stefanos Tsitsipas (#5) with a worsening abdominal strain while Karolina Muchova (#25) recovered from 5-2 down in the first set to stun Belgium’s Elise Mertens – but also has a pre-existing ab injury and was wincing mid-match.
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Australian Open 2021: Tsitsipas and Rublev cruise, Barty and Nadal navigate tricky wins
There were routine victories for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini had an injury scare but managed to outlast Karen Khachanov in three tight sets. That was before Rafael Nadal and world number one Ashleigh Barty found ways to grit past tricky challenges in the night session, booking their respective places into the second week in Melbourne. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Kenin crashes out, Tsitsipas survives, Svitolina ruthless
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas needed all five sets to outlast home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis, who again proved he can hang with the world’s best at this level – despite his injuries. Before, there was a tearful exit for defending champion Sofia Kenin while top seed Ashleigh Barty survived a scare to beat wildcard Daria Gavrilova and Elina Svitolina beat teenager Cori Gauff. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Injuries pile up as warm-up events draw to close
Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka are just three of the high-profile players who’ve withdrawn from their respective Australian Open warm-up events with niggling injuries as a precaution, just days before the year’s first Grand Slam gets underway in Melbourne. Continue reading
Lucas Pouille discusses recovery after elbow surgery, comeback plans for 2021
Lucas Pouille, a former world number 10, underwent season-ending surgery in 2019 and had an elbow operation last summer too during the COVID-enforced tennis shutdown – but has now revealed the extent of his injuries as he’s keen to adopt a gradual approach to this latest comeback, not applying much pressure or heightened expectations for himself going forward. Continue reading
Thiem’s coach Nicolas Massu: I see a bright future, he can win more Slams
Thiem’s coach Nicolas Massu has heaped praise on the Austrian, after an unforgettable year where the 27-year-old won his first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows in September – having fallen short eight months earlier in his maiden hard-court final at the Australian Open. Critics believe this is just the start as he establishes his pedigree, a sentiment Massu agrees with. Continue reading
Australian Open 2021: Roger Federer doubtful to play, knee recovery not 100%
Roger Federer hasn’t played a competitive match since losing in straight-sets against eventual champion Novak Djokovic in last year’s semi-finals at the Australian Open and the 20-time Grand Slam winner has recently admitted his recovery from a troublesome knee injury isn’t yet 100% – creating doubt as to whether he’ll be fit in time for the proposed February 8 start date. Continue reading
Daniil Medvedev’s historic ATP Finals win sets up a very promising 2021
Daniil Medvedev recovered from a set down to beat US Open champion Dominic Thiem and win this year’s Nitto ATP Finals, making history in London on Sunday. Eleven years after his Russian compatriot Nikolay Davydenko won the first edition at The 02, the 24-year-old defiantly rose to the occasion in a way that sets him – and others – up brilliantly for a promising 2021 campaign. Continue reading
Jannik Sinner beats Vasek Pospisil, becomes youngest ATP title-winner in 12 years
Jannik Sinner will wake up to see a career-high ranking upon his name on Monday, after becoming the youngest ATP champion in 12 years with a three-set win (6-4, 3-6, 7-6) over Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in the Sofia final earlier today. It wasn’t his best match, but he finishes the 2020 season on an unforgettable high that he’ll look to build upon in 2021 and beyond. Continue reading
French Open 2020: Rafael Nadal storms past Novak Djokovic to 20th Slam title
Rafael Nadal was ruthlessly brilliant en route to yet another French Open title, beating world number one Novak Djokovic in straight-sets – 6-0, 6-2, 7-5 – clinching his 13th Roland Garros trophy in style, having returned to competitive action less than a month ago. The Spaniard also joins esteemed company: Roger Federer on a record-tying 20 career Grand Slam titles. Continue reading
