Daniil Medvedev will face Rafael Nadal for the Australian Open title on Sunday after a thrilling win over fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals on Friday.
The world number two Russian defeated Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final of the Australian Open for the second year in a row.
If Medvedev defeats Nadal, he will become the first man in the Open era to win two consecutive Grand Slam titles since his victory at the US Open in New York last September.
Medvedev stopped world number one Novak Djokovic from winning all four Grand Slam titles in a single season when he won in the US last year and now has a chance to stop Nadal from reaching a record 21 Grand Slam tournament titles.
The Russian, who lost to Nadal in five sets in the 2019 US Open final, will retain his current status quo in the men’s tennis record books if he should manage to beat the Spaniard.
“I’m going to play one of the greatest players of all time again. And I’m going to play someone who’s looking for his 21st Slam,” he said.
“Grand Slam finals are special. Of course, I remember that match against Rafa in my first final and we played for about five hours.”
“We have played a few games since then and I am ready. I know Rafa is a very strong player. I will need to do my best to win this game,” he predicted.
