Australian Open: Stan Wawrinka wins against Daniil Medvedev!
Stan Wawrinka has caused the biggest surprise in the men's field of the Australian Open so far: The Swiss beat tournament co-favorite Daniil Medvedev in five sets.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 27, 2020, 10:36 am
What a performance from "Stan the Man"! The three-time major champ took the Russian Daniil Medvedev out of the tournament in an exciting five-set match - 6: 2, 2: 6, 4: 6, 7: 6 (2) and 6: 2.
Wawrinka was the aggressor over the entire distance - with his win / loss ratio of winners and uninhibited mistakes, the first four sets were also decided, whereby from round two it seemed that Medvedev had the game under control. The Swiss could not take advantage of the only break opportunity in the fourth set, but then smoothly won the tie break.
Medvedev - so far without a win in a five-set game - now seemed knocked out, Wawrinka quickly came to the 2: 0 in the fifth round and in the 3: 1 game fended off three chances for Medvedev to rebreak. The decision then 5-2, when Wawrinka used his third break chance of the game with a forehand ball and showed himself resolutely to the forehead.
With his 18th ace, he finally got his first match ball, which he converted directly.
In the course of the game he beat 71 winners - with 64 mistakes without need.
Medvedev in five sentences: 0: 6
Wawrinka, who won his first of three Grand Slam tournaments in Melbourne in 2014, is a great victory. The 34-year-old had surgery on his knee in 2017 and was slow to step back in 2018. In 2019 he won perhaps the best match of the year against Stefanos Tsitsipas at the French Open and reached the quarter-finals in which he lost to Roger Federer.
He now faces the winner of the game between Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open 2020.
With Daniil Medvedev, one of the co-favorites says goodbye to the title. The 23-year-old had recently reached the final at the US Open and lost there in five sets to Rafael Nadal. His record in five setters now: 0: 6.
Wawrinka again successful with Norman
Wawrinka has been reunited with successful coach Magnus Norman since last year. He left Wawrinka in 2017 to have more time for his family. Norman's daughter finally persuaded him to return to Wawrinka.
For the Swedes, there is no question that Wawrinka can win another major tournament. "It's not that we're talking specifically about it, it's more about his level. But he's now used to playing matches again. In Australia, the day after, he was still very tired and still in pain. Now he’s a lot more relaxed and it doesn’t cost him that much energy to play matches. That’s a big difference. Stan’s clearer in the head, moves even better, and he hits a lot harder - 5 to 10 Kilometers an hour more. This is a very good development, "said Norman last summer.
The men's single draw at the Australian Open
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