Daniil Medvedev maintained his pace to possibly reclaim the ATP top ranking as the third seed defeated Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 on Wednesday to book his third career semi-final at the Australian Open.
The winner is into his third semi-final here from the last four years.
The ranking fate of former US Open winner Medvedev, the world No. 3, depends on the outcomes of rivals Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz over the next four days in Melbourne.
Medvedev used his previous big match experience to overcome the big-hitting Hurkacz, playing in a Grand Slam quarter-final for only the second time in his career (2021 Wimbledon).
Medvedev found himself level-pegging at a set apiece after 95 minutes but turned on the heat on a sweltering summer day as he won the third set with his third ace on a fourth set point.
The third seed had to work in the fourth set after an early break failed to hold up, with Hurkacz equalizing the contest,
But Medvedev got through in the deciding set, closing it out on his second match point after four hours as he completed his 100th career match – 75 wins – at a major, reaching his eighth Grand Slam semi .
“Not that I ran out of gas but I was feeling very tough at the end of the second set, physically, already,” Medvedev said. “I was like ‘Okay I need to try to stay tough.’
“I just had to try my best to do whatever I can, and that’s it – If I lose I go home and that’s okay.
“I’m happy that like this I managed to win.”
The Open is now closing in on the all-time record of 35 five-set matches at the 1983 US Open as Medvedev notched the 33rd here this month.
The match featured a total of 24 break points, with Medvedev converting four of nine while Hurkacz went five of 15.
