Australian Open: Medvedev to set meet Tsitsipas in semi-finals

Title favourite Daniil Medvedev saved a match point before producing a stunning comeback against Felix Auger-Aliassime to set up an Australian Open semi-final against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Second seed Medvedev eventually won 6-7 (4-7) 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 6-4, becoming the first player to fight back from two sets down in Melbourne this year.

Fourth seed Tsitsipas earned a dominant straight-set win over Jannik Sinner as the 23-year-old, beaten by Medvedev in last year’s semis, won 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Now Tsitsipas has the opportunity to avenge that defeat against the Russian and reach his first Australian Open final.

Medvedev, 25, is aiming to go one step further than last year when he lost the final to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who has not played at Melbourne Park this year.

Djokovic was deported from Australia after his visa was revoked because he was unvaccinated and the world number one’s absence opened the path for one of his younger rivals.

US Open champion Medvedev has taken over the mantle of favourite for the men’s singles, but played far from his best in the opening two sets against Auger-Aliassime.

Eventually Medvedev found his level as the 21-year-old Canadian – aiming for his first Australian Open semi-final – found the Russian harder to break down.

Medvedev raised his arms to the air while running backwards to the net, having clinched a memorable win after four hours 42 minutes at almost 12:30am local time.

Asked how he won, Medvedev said: “I have no idea.

“Talking about the match point, I managed to serve well. If I had a second serve who knows what would have happened.

“I was not playing my best. Felix served unbelievable; I was all over the place.

“Then, I thought to myself, what would Novak do? So I said ‘I am going to make him work’.

“I managed to raise my level and when they closed the roof I was able to go through momentum and I started playing better.”