Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev will be facing each other for the 19th time in their careers when they meet again in the Australian Open semifinals on Friday.
It’s already one of the most familiar matchups in recent tennis history outside of the Big 3, and it’s a head-to-head series that Medvedev leads 11-7. They faced each other a whopping six times last season and the Russian won five–but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Two were three-set thrillers (Indian Wells and Monte-Carlo) and two other Medvedev wins also included tiebreakers. Zverev’s lone victory came at the Cincinnati Masters via a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 decision in the round of 16.
The German’s 1-5 record in 2023 can be attributed in part to his terrible ankle injury sustained at the 2022 French Open. Zverev’s comeback understandably took a while to pick up steam, but it’s safe to say he is all the way back now. The 26-year-old is up No. 6 in the world and perhaps still on the rise following wins this fortnight over Dominik Koepfer, Lukas Klein, Alex Michelsen, Cameron Norrie, and Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev needed fifth-set tiebreakers against both Klein and Norrie but raised his level to beat Alcaraz 6-1, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-4 in the quarters.
The road to the semifinals was similarly rough for Medvedev. His comeback from two sets down against Emil Ruusuvuori round two ended at 3:39 in the morning and he also went to five sets in the quarters, outlasting Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after three hours and 59 minutes. Medvedev also got a fourth-set retirement from Terence Atmane, took care of Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets, and beat Nuno Borges in four.
Despite the world No. 6’s success last year, this matchup is a fun one–complete with consistently entertaining matches and not much love lost. In reality it’s also much closer to the overall 11-7 margin than the 5-1 edge Medvedev enjoyed in 2023.
With both players likely a little short on energy, the more offensive player who will be dictating play should have an edge. Especially if he serves like he did on Wednesday, that player is Zverev.
Pick: Zverev in 5
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It would be great if Zverev wins, but above all I want it to be a great match. Hope Zverev has the lungs to play great! They are both formidable players and have played well during the tourney except at times lacking the desired efficiency, but it is the first slam in the year!! May the best man win! 😀
Yeh let’s hope the guy with allegations as a woman beater (twice) doesn’t win.
Unbelievable this guy is even allowed on the court.
Key-word is allegations. Some women want a quick payday. So until he is convicted, I can not judge.
he has a VERY good chance, unfortunately
Do you believe this capitulation by Zverev? He knew he was in trouble in terms of the final when it went to five sets and now he’s going to lose the match.
very believable by his standards
Same thing in US open
This Zverev!! He did such a great job at disposing of Carlos, get to one point in reaching the final and then……….he retreats into his shell? What is the point after all? This is immensely disappointing!!!!!
Zverev is TOO passive when he is ahead. He had the opportunity to close in str8ts but he went into his shell which was the antithesis to the play that got him to that winning position to begin with!!!!!!!! Just bloody annoying!!
a story we have seen before