Daniil Medvedev, a two-time runner-up, defeated big-serving Hubert Hurkacz in the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday, moving closer to winning his second Grand Slam, confessing it had “destroyed” him physically.
In a four-hour match at Rod Laver Arena, the Russian world number three defeated the Polish ninth seed 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, despite the heat.
He’ll face either Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz or German sixth seed Alexander Zverev for a spot in Sunday’s final.
Medvedev, who is playing his 100th Grand Slam match, is now in his eighth major semi-final, but has only won one title: the US Open in 2021.
He reached the final in Melbourne in 2021 and 2022, but lost to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
“I am so destroyed right now,” he said. “I honestly was feeling it physically at the end of the second set already and I said to stay tough.
“Fourth set I’m just no more concentration and I have to try my best to do whatever I can.
“I’m happy that like this I managed to win.”
The Pole boasts one of the game’s biggest and finest serves, but Medvedev is arguably the best deep-court returner, and he attacked from the start, breaking right away.Hurkacz’s nerves relaxed, and a backhand winner from the baseline in game six brought the first set back to even terms.
It got to a tiebreak after the Polish player made too many unforced errors, which proved costly.
Hurkacz, enraged by his slip in concentration, came out firing at the start of the second set, breaking Medvedev right away and again in the seventh game to tie the match.
However, a remarkable double fault from the Pole — only his second of the match — while 30-40 down on his first serve in set three handed Medvedev the advantage.With Hurkacz stumbling, the Russian increased the pressure in the fourth set with an early break, but he stumbled on serve at 4-3, allowing Hurkacz to come back and forcing a deciding set.
Hurkacz served at 3-3 in the fifth set and fired a backhand long, giving the Russian the break he needed to seal the victory.