Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev's match for the history books
Daniil Medvedev has a chance to secure his place in tennis history books in the Australian Open final.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 29, 2022, 05:01 pm
Everyone is talking about the 21st. Everyone is talking about Rafael Nadal tomorrow (live on ServusTV, Eurosport and in our live ticker from 9:30 a.m.) becoming the first player in history to win 21 titles in a Grand -Slam tournament can win. An achievement that was actually within reach for Novak Djokovic. If the Serb had triumphed in the final at the US Open, he would not only have completed the historic Grand Slam calendar, he would also have been the first player to break the sound barrier of 21 major titles.
The then thwart, like Nadal's final opponent on Sunday, is Daniil Medvedev. The Russian was able to disenchant the industry leader from Belgrade with an impressive performance in Flushing Meadows - and is now doing everything to thwart long-term rival Rafael Nadal on the home straight before major title number 21. And to write history yourself. Because - and this gets (too) little attention in the media-effective race for the much-quoted 21: Daniil Medvedev can also immortalize himself in the history books of tennis on Sunday.
Nadal & Medvedev about history
Already, the Russian is the first second player in the Open era to reach the final after his debut Grand Slam victory in the Major event that followed immediately. This feat - incidentally also at the US and the Australian Open - was only achieved by Andy Muray in 2012/2013, when he lost out to Novak Djokovic after his premiere Grand Slam title in the final of the Australian Open. After the first personal Grand Slam title, however, no player was able to add a second one straight away.
For Daniil Medvedev, however, the chances on Sunday are quite good: The Russian showed an extremely confident performance in the semifinals against Stefanos Tsitsipas and will go into the final as a favorite, especially given the long injury break of final opponent Nadal. Also because the game of the second in the world rankings is considered difficult for Rafael Nadal. The Russian's flat backhand shot is the one that regularly wore down the Spaniard in the matches against Novak Djokovic. And Medvedev's almost unbelievable serve strength also speaks for a victory for the Russian.
One thing is certain: history will be made in the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday. Either the old master, the veteran, the stand-up man Rafael Nadal manages to return to the Grand Slam winner from an almost hopeless position once again in his highly decorated career. Or Daniil Medvedev underpins once and for all what the Russian has already impressively demonstrated in recent months: Namely, next to Novak Djokovic on hard court, he is currently the best tennis player on this planet.
laver arena