Daniil Medvedev stuns Alexander Zverev in five-set Australian Open epic
In the early days of Alexander Zverev's ascent through the ATP rankings, many saw him as a young player with incredible potential. Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev was nowhere near the top of his sport, and it took him a much longer time to get there than others his age. Even when he did eventually make it to the top, he was often overlooked in favor of players with flashier styles and more buzz around them.
Once reaching the summit, Medvedev has proven himself to be the unparalleled leader of his generation. Recently, he secured yet another impressive win, after overcoming a two-set deficit to earn a spot in the Australian Open final. With a superb display of skill, he claimed a hard-fought 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Zverev late on Friday night.
In the upcoming US Open of 2021, Medvedev is seeking his second grand-slam title after three years since winning his first. Accomplishing this will mean taking on Jannik Sinner, who secured a four-set win over Novak Djokovic, the top seed and reigning champion. This will be Medvedev's sixth grand slam final, but unlike his previous matches, it won't feature Rafael Nadal or the formidable Serbian player. Moreover, his upcoming third Australian Open final is sure to be a major showdown with plenty of excitement and anticipation.
Medvedev's win against Zverev is yet another proof of the considerable psychological advantage he has established over the German player. Although Zverev was the clear winner in their initial four encounters, the Russian competitor has skillfully altered their rivalry and has emerged victorious in 11 out of their last 13 battles.
In the past, having two tall men on a tennis court meant the game would mostly consist of powerful serves and short rallies. However, nowadays, some of the tallest players are also among the most agile and athletic. This was evident in a recent match between Zverev and Medvedev, where instead of relying on big serves, the players stayed back on the court and focused on defending and outlasting each other. Zverev's clever tactics of moving to the net paid off as he was able to take advantage of the open spaces created by Medvedev's deep position on the court.
Behind by two sets, experiencing physical discomfort and nearing his departure, Medvedev eventually made a decision to alter his approach. He gave up his position at the back of the court, positioning himself closer to the baseline, hitting the ball earlier and depriving Zverev of time. Additionally, he was able to improve his serving rhythm, resulting in a tiebreak where he took charge.
At a critical moment, just when it seemed like Medvedev was going to turn the tables, he found himself in a huge predicament. In the fourth set tiebreak, with the score at 4-4, he made a serious error by double faulting, leading to him losing the mini-break. Zverev was then only two points away from winning while on his own serve. Despite being in a dangerous position again, Medvedev took quick action, hitting a fantastic forehand winner followed by an impressive return winner off Zverev's first serve, utilizing the drop shot. He finished off the set with an ace.
As the ultimate round progressed, Zverev had a tough time with his stamina and became very unsure of his moves. It was clear that Medvedev was going to triumph. The deciding set was expected to be eventful and it was no surprise when Medvedev managed to break Zverev's serve at 2-2 as the German's forehand was not up to the task. Medvedev clinched the single service break in the final set and easily maintained his own serve to secure a remarkable victory.
