Daniil Medvedev rallied from two sets down for the fourth time in his career on Friday as he moved past long-term rival Alexander Zverev 5-7, 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach his third Australian Open final to set up clash against Jannik Sinner.
It was the 19th time they had faced each other, but it was their first major encounter. In the fourth-set tie-break, Medvedev was two points from losing, but he maintained his composure and advanced to his sixth Slam final match following an intense four hours and eighteen minutes match inside the packed Rod Laver Arena.
The 2021 US Open champion, who now leads Zverev 12-7 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, will aim to clinch his second major trophy when he takes on Italian Jannik Sinner on Sunday after the fourth seed defeated record-10-time champ Novak Djokovic in four sets. Medvedev also has his task cut out as Sinner has won 18 out of 19 sets he has played.
Medvedev’s third Australian Open final and sixth Grand Slam final will be his first against a player other than Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal.