Aus Open: Medvedev beats Tsitsipas to set up title clash against Nadal

Medvdev beat the Greek player 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in four sets. He will now face Rafael Nadal who is eyeing his 21st title overall to become the leader of the troika of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and himself.

Melbourne: Daniil Medvedev crushed Stefanos Tsitsipas' title dream as he advanced to the final of the Australian Open 2020, beating him in four sets here on Friday.

The second seed demonstrated a mixture of quality and grit under the lights on Rod Laver Arena to beat the Greek player 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. He will now face Rafael Nadal who is eyeing his 21st title overall to become the leader of the troika of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and himself.

• The return of @DaniilMedwed 🇷🇺
  
  The world No.2 is back in the #AusOpen men’s singles final, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1.
  
  🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/wHpouY2PTk

  — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  The return of @DaniilMedwed 🇷🇺
  
  The world No.2 is back in the #AusOpen men’s singles final, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1.
  
  🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/wHpouY2PTk

  — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022

  ">

  The return of @DaniilMedwed 🇷🇺
  
  The world No.2 is back in the #AusOpen men’s singles final, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5) 4-6 6-4 6-1.
  
  🎥: @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis #AusOpen • #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/wHpouY2PTk

  — #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022

The Russian, who reached the championship match in Melbourne last year (l. to Djokovic), targeted the Greek's backhand from the baseline with his flat and powerful groundstrokes throughout.

Medvedev hit 39 winners and broke four times to advance after two hours and 34 minutes.

Tsitsipas was aiming to reach the final in Melbourne for the first time, having fallen at the semi-final stage in 2019 and 2021. The Greek, whose best result at a major was a run to the championship match at Roland Garros last year.

Earlier in the day, the 20-time Grand Slam champion Nadal came one step closer to becoming the greatest major champion in history after defeating Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the AO semi-final.

With agencies