Double runner-up Daniil Medvedev overcame Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday, setting the stage for a possible Australian Open semifinal showdown in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, whereas Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska continued her spectacular run within the match.
Former U.S. Open champion Medvedev got here by means of a grueling five-setter in sweaty situations on Rod Laver Arena, prevailing 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and can face both second seed Alcaraz or sixth seed Alexander Zverev within the final 4.
The Russian world No. 3 was twice pegged again by Polish ninth seed Hurkacz after going a arrange however produced the essential break within the decider to recover from the road.
The 27-year-old, who misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the 2021 ultimate and Rafael Nadal the next yr, mentioned he felt “destroyed” after the competition, which lasted almost 4 hours.
“I honestly was feeling it physically at the end of the second set already and I said to stay tough,” he mentioned.
“Fourth set I’m just no more concentration and I have to try my best to do whatever I can.”
In the opening match on middle court docket, 93rd-ranked Yastremska cruised previous unseeded Czech Linda Noskova to turn into simply the second girls’s qualifier within the Open Era to get thus far on the Australian Open.
She broke 3 times to win 6-3, 6-4 in 78 minutes and arrange a conflict in opposition to unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya or Chinese twelfth seed Zheng Qinwen for a spot within the ultimate.
Yastremska is the primary girls’s qualifier to achieve the final 4 on the season-opening Grand Slam since Australia’s Christine Matison in 1978.
“It’s nice to make history because at that time I wasn’t even born,” she mentioned.
The 23-year-old wrote a message of help for Ukrainian fighters concerned within the struggle in opposition to Russia on a TV digicam lens after her win.
“I’m very proud of them,” she mentioned. “They actually deserve enormous respect. I all the time attempt to write one thing for Ukraine, about Ukraine.
“I think it’s my mission here. If I do well, I can get – tough to express. I’m just trying to give the signal to Ukraine that I’m really proud of it.”
Yastremska confronted a tricky battle to achieve the primary draw at Melbourne Park, being taken the space in all three of her qualifying matches.
But she has since moved up a gear, eliminating Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Marketa Vondrousova within the first spherical and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka within the fourth spherical.
Alcaraz eyes No. 1
Alcaraz, who headlines the night session, is on a mission to win his third Grand Slam and wrest the No. 1 rating from the arms of 10-time champion Djokovic.
He is aiming to turn into the third man within the Open Era to win three Grand Slams earlier than the age of 21, after Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander.
Germany’s Zverev, who stands in his method, has gained 4 of the seven conferences between the pair, together with their most up-to-date encounter on the ATP Finals in November.
But Alcaraz, 20, has drawn confidence from his performances in Australia.
“I’m feeling better and better every match that I’m playing,” he mentioned.
However, he is aware of he can be in a scrap in opposition to the large Zverev, who has been by means of two grueling five-setters.
“Obviously I love playing against him,” mentioned Alcaraz. “It’s always a tough battle. I have to play my best level. He pushes me to play my 100% every time.”
Seeds have tumbled within the prime half of the ladies’s draw, leaving simply China’s Zheng standing.
The 21-year-old is taking inspiration from compatriot Li Na’s win in Australia in 2014 and bought a lift when she spoke to the retired Chinese star for the primary time in particular person in Melbourne.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
