- Daniil Medvedev [4] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]
- H2H: Medvedev leads 5-1
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – A new face will be in the Australian Open final, as Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas bid for the last final berth.
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Daniil Medvedev [4] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Daniil Medvedev [4] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] | H2H: Medvedev leads 5-1 |
| Australian Open | Melbourne, Australia |
| Hard (O) | Prize Money: A$850,000 |
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Preview: Daniil Medvedev [4] v Stefanos Tsitsipas [5]
A new challenging pack is on the scene as Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas bid to make the Australian Open final for the first time in their careers. Medvedev has been tested only once in his third-round match against Filip Krajinovic, which went the distance.
More impressively, Tsitsipas looked down and out against Rafael Nadal and came from two sets down to stun the former champion as he bids for a spot in his maiden Slam final in his second Melbourne semi-final.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021)
| H2H: | Daniil Medvedev [4] (WR: 4) | Stefanos Tsitsipas [5] (WR: 6) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Semi-final (2021) | Semi-final (2019, 2021) |
| 1st Serve % | 61.2 | 62.4 |
| Service Points Won % | 68.1 | 74.3 |
| Break Points Saved % | 65 | 48.3 |
| 2nd Serve Return Points Won % | 57 | 60.1 |
| Break Points Converted % | 56.7 | 48.3 |
With a commanding head-to-head over Tsitsipas, and a comparatively under the radar approach to the semi-finals, but it is worth noting that the last result went Tsitsipas’ way when he won the ATP Tour Finals.
Medvedev has proved to be just a little more clutch when he has needed to save break points against him and likewise has been the more consistent converting his chances, but overall Tsitsipas has been better at attacking any weaker second serves.
It was a win and a half over Rafael Nadal, and with the benefit of one less match played, it will come down to how Tsitsipas reacts to that adrenaline rush of one of the wins of his career.
Playing Styles
For such a tall unit, Medvedev is surprisingly nimble with great lateral movement and looks to control and grind away at his opponents from the baseline, looking to finish things off with arguably his best shot which is a backhand down the line, teed off with depth and pace. His long levers means he can also defend well and has a capable serve.
He has worked a lot on improving his mid-court and net game and has also become a lot stronger mentally compared to the quick-temper we have seen in the past.
Tsitsipas possesses an all-court game with powerful ground strokes and a solid serve and will come to the net quite happily to follow that in for winners.
He has added a far bit of variety to his backhand, using blocked and slice returns to give him some more options against kick serves and his single-handed backhand is up there with some of the best.
Prediction
There are a couple of elements Tsitsipas can hold on to. He has been this far before in Slams so the experience element is there, and he will be fuelled by his comeback against Nadal. Medvedev has had the measure of his game, and has had a test this tournament, so Tsitsipas might have to channel his focus is he lets Medvedev get off to a quick start.
There battles have, in general, been tight and competitive – three-setters or tight straight setters on tour and their one previous Slam encounter at the US Open in 2018 was four sets.
This has four or five sets in it – but Medvedev looks just a little more likely to pip Tsitsipas to the post.
Prediction: Medvedev in five sets.
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