Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev nets astonishing comeback win over Alexander Zverev to set up Jannik Sinner final

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 26/01/2024 at 14:55 GMT

The new men's champion of the Australian Open will be either Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev, after the latter beat Alexander Zverev to join the Italian in Sunday's final. After appearing down and out at two sets down, somehow Medvedev drew on all his reserves to reach the final. Stream both Australian Open singles finals on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.

Daniil Medvedev launched a remarkable comeback to beat Alexander Zverev in five epic sets and reach the Australian Open final.

Medvedev had appeared to be suffering physically in the first two sets after a series of gruelling matches earlier in the tournament.

But he turned things around in some fashion, winning back-to-back tie-breaks to force a fifth set, and then holding on to reach his sixth slam final with a 5-7 3-6 7-6(4) 7-6(5) 6-3 triumph.

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The 26-year-old will take on Jannik Sinner on Sunday, after the Italian stunned Novak Djokovic to reach his first major final.

The first set looked to be going the way of Zverev from the get-go, as he built up a 4-1 lead with a double break.

But with the German having been surprisingly broken back, the pair fought tooth and nail thereafter in a bid to take the opener.

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The critical juncture came as they reached 5-5, as Medvedev - having fought back into contention - suddenly wobbled and saw his opponent take another break.

Medvedev, however, wouldn't lie down and earned a break-back point to force a tie-break. However, once that was saved, Zverev - following a remarkable 51-shot rally - flicked away a winner at the net to go one set to the good.

'What a finish!' - Zverev wins incredible 51-shot rally against Medvedev

With his nose in front, Zverev set about consolidating his advantage and at 2-2 in the second, found a break to put clear water between him and the Russian at 4-2 up.

This time there was to be no topsy-turvy end to the set as Zverev was all business, carving out a set point with a forehand winner, and then sealing it when Medvedev miscued a forehand.

Could Medvedev fight back in the third? He took a long bathroom break at the end of the second set in a bid to do just that, emerging looking fresher - at least on the outside.

And he went toe-to-toe with Zverev as a compelling third played out, the highlight a quite astonishing rally that left Nick Kyrgios in the Eurosport commentary box declaring that "Dr Octopus has arrived!"

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Hold followed hold and the tie-break - when it arrived - seemed a fair conclusion to a set that had been as equal as they come.

Medvedev looked to be on his way to taking matters into a fourth at 3-1 ahead, but back came Zverev as the pair just could not be separated.

Suddenly though - at just the wrong moment - cracks began to appear in the German's game, dumping a forehand approach into the net and then sending a backhand long to gift his dogged adversary two set points.

And Medvedev barged through the half-open door, taking the match into a fourth set as a once-unlikely recovery gathered momentum.

Medvedev takes third set in thrilling tie-break against Zverev in classic

This was now a war, with Medvedev in full-on grind mode from the baseline, rarely missing and giving Zverev little pace to work with in the slowing conditions.

The pair were both dominant behind their respective serves at the outset, progressing to 3-3 as another dramatic denouement to a set beckoned.

3-3 became 6-6 and another tie-break, as Zverev staved off danger in game eight by saving two break points.

As it had been throughout the latter stages of the match it was nip and tuck in the tie-break, but Medvedev somehow - thanks to a remarkable fluked forehand drop shot - brought up a set point, and aced Zverev to take it to five.

And now it was Medvedev who was on top, edging the rallies and forcing the errors from Zverev's racket.

He broke the No. 6 seed to go 3-2 ahead, and then served it out to make it through to Sunday's showpiece as he concluded a comeback for the ages.

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