Medvedev knocks out Tsitsipas to book final spot vs Nadal

Melbourne, Australia, Jan 28 (EFE).- Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev won an ill-tempered Australian Open semi-final against Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.

Medvedev prevailed 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to set up a clash in Sunday’s final against Spanish star Rafael Nadal, seeded 6th.

The Russian lost his cool during the second set when he angrily recriminated the umpire Jaume Campistol for not punishing Tsitsipas for allegedly receiving coaching tips from his father during the match.

But he was able to recover to see out the final two sets.

Medvedev later admitted “it was a big mistake” after having apologized to the umpire at the end of the match and exchanging a very curt handshake with the defeated Greek, who collapsed in the fourth set.

Medvedev has now reached the final for the second consecutive year. He lost at the last hurdle to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, who was controversially denied entry to Australia to defend his title this year over his coronavirus vaccination status.

The Russian and Nadal faced each other in the final of the 2019 US Open, which saw the Majorcan prevail in five exhausting sets. EFE

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