Daniil Medvedev takes out Hubert Hurkacz, back in Australian Open semifinals

MELBOURNE, Australia — Daniil Medvedev defeated ninth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Open d Australia for the third time in four years.

During a grueling four-hour match that featured numerous exchanges of more than 20 shots, Medvedev held off a comeback attempt from Hurkacz to advance.

Medvedev will meet either Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz or Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev, who were playing later on Wednesday, for a place in the final.

Medvedev, who won the 2021 US Open and is a two-time finalist in Australia, looked on course for an easier victory when leading 4-2 in the fourth set, but Hurkacz raised his game to take the decision. .

Medvedev took the decisive break in the seventh game of the fifth and held on for the victory, capped by a drop shot.

“I'm so destroyed right now,” Medvedev said, his hands clasped behind his head, during his on-court interview. “I already felt very strong physically during the opening set.”

No. 3 Medvedev had a tough run in Melbourne, including a nearly 4 1/2-hour, five-set second-round match that ended around 4 a.m. and when he admitted he thought already on the return flight. .

The journey back came to mind against Hurkacz, when he decided to abandon the game plan and do everything he could to turn the situation around.

This meant reverting to a risky serve-and-volley strategy at certain points and standing near the baseline to receive serves – much closer than he usually does due to his usual deep positioning.