![]() AND OH MY COMPLETE AND UTTER ABSOLUTE DAYS! A fantastic rally, Zverev winning it several times before Medvedev runs in to pick up a volley, not only getting it over the net but somehow, from near the tramlines, flipping cross-court it at such pace that his opponent, reaching for the ball, is knocked off his feet! Medvedev, though, can’t capitalise, burning break point with a loose return before tremendous hitting from Zverev, again controlling the tempo, allows him to finish with a forehand to the corner, the 29th shot of the rally. You can probably guess what happens next but, a service-winner down the middle – he’s 93% on first delivery in this set – but preparing for a second go, up 40-30, he bounces the ball for ages, only to hit the net, completing his first double of the match. ![]() A glorious backhand return, though, gives Medvedev hope, and when Zverev nets, he’s under pressure. Medvedev 5-7 3-6 4-5 Zverev* A big forehand makes 15-0, a big serve and backhand putaway 30-0 since winning the first set, Zverev has been so solid in all aspects of the game. This match is a proper buzz now, tension mounting. No matter: Medvedev, on the stretch, gets it back into play from the back, Zverev mistimes his jump … then misses the ball entirely! What a mistake, and what a time to make it! He saves break point again, though, Medvedev going long on the backhand, and from there, Zverev closes out. So, break point … briefly, the Russian stepping back and opting not to chip his return as he has been – perhaps he was expecting Zverev to go big given the circumstances, but his riposte soars long. He makes 30-all, though, and sweeps a gorgeous forehand cross-court … but Medvedev stretches, stoops … and feels a gorgeous volley! “the Slim Reaper!” enthuses Kyrgios. ![]() “Medvedev looks good!” That he does – all the more so when Zverev, upping the pace on his groundstrokes, hits with one but misses with another, bringing us to 15-30. Medvedev 5-7 3-6 7-6(4) 4-4 Zverev* “Wooooh!” says Kyrgios as Medvedev sweeps a backhand winner cross for 0-15. He hopes it’s third time lucky in the final, asking if they have this phrase in Australia, noting that Laver isn’t his best court in terms of his results and “self-esteem” on it, but he needs to play well and win two sets – he means three – on Sunday. A month ago, he wanted to become stronger mentally and not be distracted by some bloke in the crowd shouting, or the umpire making an error.Īsked about Sinner, her says he was sleeping during the Rublev match, but beating Djokovic, 10-0 in AO semis, is impressive. He’s happy he made it tough for himself because his record in five-setters isn’t good and many times in the decider he’s not been strong enough, so he’s happy. “Sometimes you need to be lucky and today’s my day,” he concludes well yes, but also, you made it your day. He decided he couldn’t keep running as he was so started going for more, doing what he thought he needed to and it worked, his serving improved, and he got lucky at 5-5 ion the breaker – “the slice was intentional, not the “backspin against the wind”, he chortles. ![]() So in the third, he told himself that even if he lost, he just wanted to be proud of himself, and he is. Medvedev says that first set, neither of them played that well, and though he improved in the second, Zverev was really good. ![]()
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