Daniil Medvedev Battles Back from Two-Set Deficit to Advance at Australian Open

Daniil Medvedev staged a remarkable comeback to secure a thrilling victory in the second round of the Australian Open.

The No. 3 seeded Russian fought back from a two-set deficit to defeat Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland in a marathon match that lasted nearly four and a half hours.

The match, which began at 11:16 p.m. local time, ended in the early morning hours at 3:39 a.m. making it one of the latest finishes in the tournament’s history and in any Grand Slam.

Medvedev’s resilience paid off as he claimed a 3-6, 6-7(1), 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-0 victory to secure his spot in the third round.

After the match, an appreciative Medvedev acknowledged the challenging nature of the battle and expressed his gratitude to the fans who stayed till the end. He also highlighted the significance of this victory in his memory.

The Russian player will now face No. 27 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the third round.

In the match against Ruusuvuori, Medvedev encountered some difficulties as he took a medical timeout during the second-set tiebreak to address a blister on his foot. Throughout the match, he displayed signs of frustration, even tossing his racket towards his chair at one point.

Despite Ruusuvuori coming close to victory, Medvedev found his rhythm towards the end of the fourth set, particularly with his powerful serve, and managed to turn the tide in his favor. He concluded the match with an impressive 23 aces and a first-serve win rate of 70%.

In a post-match interview, Medvedev mentioned the challenges posed by the late start time of the match, which disrupted his usual routine. However, he expressed satisfaction with his ability to remain resolute and tough throughout the encounter.

With regards to his upcoming match against Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev acknowledged the difficulty but expressed his determination to give his all. He also acknowledged the presence of strong competitors in his quarter, such as Grigor Dimitrov.

James Blake from ESPN predicts that Dimitrov will emerge victorious from that section of the draw due to his solid performance thus far.