SF Preview: Medvedev, Zverev to renew rivalry

Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev have held a long-running rivalry since their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting in 2016. The pair, who have been consistent Top 10 main stays since then, have faced off 18 times, with Medvedev leading Zverev 11-7.

Friday’s semi-final clash at the Australian Open will have extra spice to it, though, with the match being their first at a major.

The final 4️⃣

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It has been more than two years since Medvedev won his maiden major title at the US Open in 2021, with Melbourne the scene of final heartbreak in 2022. The World No. 3 was aiming to clinch consecutive Slams when he took to court against Rafael Nadal in the 2022 AO title match but from two sets to love up, he was unable to cross the finish line, with Nadal roaring back to clinch his 21st major, a record at the time.

Medvedev, who also lost in the 2021 final, will be aiming to finally get his name on the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup this weekend but heads into his meeting with Zverev off the back of a gruelling five-set win against Hubert Hurkacz which lasted three hours and 59 minutes. He also rallied from two-sets down to defeat Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round, with the match finishing at 3:40 a.m.

Medvedev is delighted to still be alive in Melbourne as he prepares to compete in his eighth major semi-final.

“I always like the ending of the tournaments, because maybe my first or second final on the ATP Tour, you're like, 'Wow, it's strange, there's always so many people [on the tournament site] in the beginning and then it's so quiet'. On Grand Slams, it's even more strange,” Medvedev said.

“But after two or three finals, I got used to it, and I'm like actually, it’s the best feeling. You know if there is almost no one left in the tournament, that means you've done a great job. There's no one to disturb you, it's just you, so go try to win it. I like this feeling. Hopefully I can be here on Sunday.”

Standing in the way of a sixth major final is Zverev, who is aiming to reach his second Slam title match (US Open 2020).

The German earned his first Top 5 win at a major in the quarter-finals when he produced an impressive serving display to take down World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in four sets. Zverev, who landed 85 per cent of his first serves in that match, has spent 16 hours and 52 minutes on court this fortnight, earning fifth-set tie-break wins against Lukas Klein and Cameron Norrie.

The World No. 6’s run in Melbourne illustrates that the German is back to his best after the ankle injury he suffered in his Roland Garros semi-final against Nadal in 2022. The injury sidelined the German for sixth months but he recovered well last year, climbing back into the Top 10. Victory against Medvedev would mark another major step in his comeback.

“I think [the injury] did hold me back in a way. I was kind of on top of my game before the injury happened. I was at my best level so far in my career. I'm obviously extremely happy to be back where I am and winning these kind of matches and giving myself the chance again,” said Zverev, who will be competing in his seventh major semi-final.

“Because last year, for the first part of the season, or actually throughout the year, I wasn't a Slam contender. I wasn't a contender to win tournaments like that. If I am now, I'm very happy about that.”

Medvedev and Zverev will face off on Rod Laver Arena from 7:30 p.m. local time on Friday. The winner will play either record 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or 22-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner on Sunday.

View Medvedev and Zverev's Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry here.