Daniil Medvedev survives epic battle with big-serving Hubert Hurkacz to make semi-finals at Australian Open

Daniil Medvedev beat Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 to make the last four of the Australian Open for the third time in his career.

The Russian is a two-time finalist at Melbourne Park and awaits the winner of Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz for the opportunity to contest the showpiece final for a third time in his career.

Hurkacz entered the match leading their head-to-head record 3-2 and having won their last two encounters in straight sets, and the thundering serve of the Polish player caused Medvedev issues throughout as he struggled with fatigue.

The world No. 3, though, secured the decisive break in the seventh game of the final set and held his nerve – and his serve – to make the last four.

“I’m so destroyed right now,” said Medvedev in his on-court interview.

“I [didn’t] run out of gas, but I was feeling very tough physically at the end of the second set already. So I needed to try and stay tough.

“I had to try my best to do whatever I [could]and if I lose, I lose, and go home, and it’s okay. I’m happy that I managed to win and I really liked the match point.”

The success represented Medvedev’s 75th win at a major in his 100th match at that level, and his third-straight semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam following his runs to the last four of Wimbledon and the final of the US Open in 2023.

With Hurkacz having one of the most potent serves in the men’s game, and Medvedev an expert returner, a marathon, high-quality affair looked likely.

And having taken a one-set lead, the Russian flagged badly in set two, allowing the world No. 9 to restore match parity.

The opening three games of the next set saw five break opportunities for Hurkacz and just one for Medvedev. The Russian picked of his to stymie the Polish player’s momentum.

And when the world No. 3 fashioned a 4-2 lead in the fourth, the writing appeared to be on the wall. Yet, the world No. 9 roared back to send it to a fifth.

There, Medvedev bided his time, striking with a break to 15 in the seventh game of the final set before seeing it out in just over four hours.

The contest represented the world No. 3’s second marathon battle in Melbourne Park after he was taken to five sets against Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round. He now has two days recovery ahead of the semi-final against either Zverev or Alcaraz.