By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday January 15, 2022
A potential semifinal rematch between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas looms at the Australian Open.
Photo Source: Getty
It was business as usual for No.2-seeded Daniil Medvedev and No.4-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas on Day 6 of the Australian Open.
Both advanced without too much trouble, but Tsitsipas did need to play four sets as he dropped a third-set tiebreaker to a very in-form Benoit Paire. But the Greek, a two-time semifinalist in Melbourne, scored a late break in the fourth set to avoid any further complications against Paire and set a fourth-round clash with American Taylor Fritz.
It has been an impressive week one for Tsitsipas, especially when we consider that it was just two months ago that he was under the knife, undergoing a minor procedure to repair a perennially bothersome right elbow.
After experiencing some pain at the ATP Cup in the first week of January, Tsitsipas says he feels much better know, and it shows in his form.
“I'm getting physically better in every single one of my matches,” he said on Thursday, adding: “My elbow hasn't been bothering me since Sydney. I see a very good progression since then, and I'm happy to be able to play that way.”
After Saturday’s 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 takedown of Paire he was asked again about the elbow and curtly replied: “My elbow is very good. Thank you.”
The focus, apparently, is no longer the elbow, but Tsitsipas' form.
Tsitsipas’ 21 aces and 47 winners (against 26 unforced errors) also tell the story of a man who is fit and feeling his oats once again.
Medvedev eases Past Van de Zandschulp
There were no issues with Medvedev’s game on Saturday as the 2021 Australian Open runner-up motored past Botic Van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, 6-4 6-4 6-4. The Russian hit 26 winners against 19 unforced errors and saved all three break points he faced.
The World No.2 also had a good time with the crowd on Margaret Court Arena after the match (much better than his odd experience on Rod Laver Arena after he defeated Nick Kyrgios in the second round).
Medvedev will next face American Maxime Cressy, the serve-and-volley artist who took down Australia’s Christopher O’Connell on Day 6, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-2 to reach the round of 16 at a major for the first time. The 24-year-old is playing in just his fourth main draw at a major and has racked up nine wins on tour which includes a trip to the Melbourne final two weeks ago where he fell to Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev and Tsitsipas are slated to meet in the semifinals in Melbourne, which would be a rematch of Medvedev's 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 victory over the Greek in 2021. In total, Medvedev holds the 6-2 lifetime edge over Tsitsipas but the Greek took their last meeting at Roland-Garros in 2021.