Daniil Medvedev advanced toward third straight Australian Open

• Russian seventh seed will play either American Sebastian Korda
• Could face Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals after Spaniard’s shock loss.
• Nadal and Medvedev are on the same side.

Daniil Medvedev advanced toward a third straight Australian Open final by defeating a partisan winner and a tough veteran in John Millman.

The Russian seventh seed overcame the Australian wildcard entrant 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 on Margaret Court Arena after losing the 2021 final at Melbourne Park to Novak Djokovic and then Rafael Nadal last year.

The dangerous American Sebastian Korda, who last month advanced to the final of the Adelaide International, or the Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki are his next opponents.

Nadal and Medvedev are on the same side of the draw and were supposed to play each other in the round of eight.

With the Spaniard’s shocking loss to Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday, his path to a third consecutive final has opened up.

“It was a fantastic match. Even the score in the second and third sets does not accurately reflect what occurred on the court “The Russian stated.

“He managed to break me three times in the first set, which is unusual. I’m a little disappointed in myself, but he played fantastically.”

The Russian dropped only three games in a first-round thrashing of Marcos Giron, but Millman initially put up a fight, with several of long rallies.

They battled toe-to-toe in the first set with both players labouring on service, before the world number eight broke for a fourth time to seal the set.

Medvedev stepped up a notch in the second set, and when Millman netted a backhand to give him a 2-1 lead, he planted his foot on the floor to seize complete control.

There was no turning back for the Australian as Medvedev stormed to victory.

“Physically, it was difficult for both of us,” said Medvedev, who is attempting to become only the fourth man in Open period history to reach three consecutive Australian Open finals, after Djokovic, Mats Wilander, and Ivan Lendl.

“However, I felt incredible.”

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