Daniil Medvedev Battles Past Hubert Hurkacz to Reach Australian Open Semifinals

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev, the third seed at the Australian Open, persevered through a grueling match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz to secure a spot in the semifinals for the third time. The epic quarterfinal lasted almost four hours on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park on Wednesday.

Medvedev, a two-time finalist at the tournament, faced a tough challenge from the formidable Hurkacz, who had a winning career record against him. The match was a battle of resilience, with both players refusing to give in and fighting for every point.

The former U.S. Open champion, known for his occasional grumbling and complaints on the court, displayed his exceptional skills and determination throughout the match. Medvedev managed to seize the opportunities that came his way, capitalizing on the few chances he had against Hurkacz.

Following a tightly contested opening set, which saw both players exchanging breaks, Medvedev clinched the tiebreak and took the early lead. However, Hurkacz fought back strongly in the second set, producing winners and breaking Medvedev’s serve to level the match.

In the third set, Medvedev started with a burst of energy, racing to a 3-0 lead with a break handed to him by Hurkacz’s double fault. Although Hurkacz managed to hold his serve and avoid losing the set on a third break, Medvedev continued to assert his dominance with powerful shots and secured a two-one advantage.

The fourth set witnessed intense high-quality exchanges between the two players. Hurkacz made a comeback, breaking Medvedev and equalizing the match at 4-4. With the momentum on his side, the Pole continued to challenge Medvedev, who had already endured a grueling five-set match in the second round. The set ultimately went in Hurkacz’s favor, sending the match to a deciding fifth set.

Despite the physical toll of the previous rounds, Medvedev displayed remarkable composure and patience in the final set. He waited for the right moment to strike, seizing an opportunity with a brilliant backhand return to break Hurkacz and take a 3-3 scoreline. With this crucial break, Medvedev gained the advantage and firmly held on to his serve to close out the match.

After converting his second match point, Medvedev celebrated his hard-fought victory, acknowledging his team with blown kisses. The Russian tennis star expressed his exhaustion but also his immense satisfaction with the win, emphasizing the difficulty of facing an opponent like Hurkacz.

With this triumph, Daniil Medvedev advances to his eighth Grand Slam semifinal, where he will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev. The Russian will aim to secure a spot in the Australian Open final and potentially claim his maiden Grand Slam title.