Chronicle.Medvedev overshadows Tsitsipas and will play his second final of a Grand Slam tournament
In the final, Djokovic ends rookie Karatsev's dream
The fittest tennis player on the circuit versus the eight-time tournament winner.
On one side of the track,
Daniil Medvedev
, champion last year in Paris-Bercy and in the ATP Finals, leader of the Russian team that won the ATP Cup, a team tournament prior to this Australian Open, winner of 21 consecutive games, Unbeaten since last October 30, when he fell against
Kevin Anderson
in the quarterfinals of the Vienna tournament, winner in his last 12 crosses against
top ten
players
, executioner in the semifinal of
Stefanos Tsitsipas
this Friday
(6-4, 6-2 and 7-5).
In front of him,
Novak Djokovic
, 28 consecutive victories in Australia, adding the eight singles of 2020 and 2021 in the ATPCup, undefeated on the ground
aussie
since January 23, 2018, when he was surprised in the quarterfinals by the Korean
Hyeon Chung
, recovered from the abdominal injury that compromised his presence in this edition of the tournament after a very tough round of 16 match against
Taylor Fritz
.
"Medvedev is the man to beat," said the world number 1 after beating
Aslán Karatsev
in the semifinals
on Thursday
.
«I played a final against Rafa, one of the best in history.
Now I'll do it in front of Novak, another of the best.
I hope that experience can help me, "said the fourth among the favorites, bringing the 2019 USOpen final against Nadal, whom he led to five sets after losing the first two.
At 25 years old, the Russian resident in Monte Carlo uses intractable ways.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was able to verify it, who had just become the second player capable of neutralizing two sets against Nadal in a
major
.
"For tennis, it would be good if he won the tournament," he commented after his defeat.
Advantage of the Serbian in the face to face
Djokovic dominates the series of games 4-3.
Only one of them took place in a Grand Slam tournament, precisely in Melbourne, in 2019: the Serbian won in four sets.
Medvedev took the most recent: in the group stage of the last ATP Finals, by a double 6-3.
They face, perhaps, the two best setbacks on the circuit.
Against Tsitipas, he dropped 46 winners, 17 of them in
ace
form
.
From his 1.98, with a short movement and a very difficult to read direction, he has an advantage in service.
Not so in the rest, where you will meet the best in that luck.
Djokovic, 33, the third in the bid to finish his career with the most Grand Slam titles, is seeking 18th in Melbourne, leaving him two
behind Federer
and Nadal.
He has all the pressure.
I have nothing to lose, "said his opponent on Sunday.
The Balkan has found his best tone in recent matches and brings an immense background on the big stages.
It will be his twenty-eighth
major
finish
.
He won how many he played in Melbourne.
His adversary will not be afraid.
He did not do it against Nadal in New York, when he was less of a player than now and seriously compromised the Spanish options.
He knows how to handle delicate moments, although in some trances he gets carried away by his temperament.
It happened to him in the third round of this Australian Open, when he faced his coach,
Gilles Cervara
, who left the track without witnessing the reaction in the fifth set against
Filip Krajinovic
, who he fired 6-0.
It happened again in the only delicate moment of his match against Tsitsipas, resolved with a
parallel backhand
passing shot
that he celebrated with gestures dedicated to the public, decanted in favor of the Greek.
"At that moment I knew I had won the game," he commented on the sensational blow with which he achieved the break that would become definitive.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
US Open
Australian Open
tennis
Australian Open 2021Nadal neutralizes the combative Norrie and enters the round of 16 without giving up a set
Australian Open Maximum requirement;
poor preparation for the Australian Open
Australian Open Tsitsipas lifts Nadal two sets and frustrates his dream of surpassing Federer's 20 greats in Melbourne
See links of interest
2021 business calendar
Daniil Medvedev - Stefanos Tsitsipas, live
Fiorentina - Spezia
DSC Arminia Bielefeld - VfL Wolfsburg
FIFA Windows: Poland - Spain, live
Cagliari - Torino