Melbourne – Two-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev took on well-serving Hubert Hurkacz on Wednesday to set up a potential Australian Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz as Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska’s dream continued.
Former US Open champion Medvedev cruised through a grueling five-setter in sweaty conditions at Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and will face second seed Alcaraz. or sixth seed Alexander Zverev from the last four.
The Russian world number three was tied twice by Poland’s ninth seed Hurkacz after the build-up, but produced a crucial break in the decider to get over the line.
The 27-year-old, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2021 final and Rafael Nadal the following year, said he felt “devastated” after the match, which lasted almost four hours.
“I honestly felt it physically at the end of the second set and I said to stay tough,” he said.
“Fourth set, I’m just not focused anymore and I have to try my best to do my best.
In the opening match on center court, the 93-ranked Yastremská cruised past unseeded Czech Linda Nosková to become only the second Open Era women’s qualifier to make it that far at the Australian Open.
She broke three times to win 6-3, 6-4 in 78 minutes and set up a clash with unseeded Russian Anna Kalinskaya or Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen for a place in the final.
Yastremska is the first female qualifier to reach the last four at the opening Grand Slam of the season since Australia’s Christine Matison in 1978.
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“It’s nice to make history because I wasn’t even born at the time,” she said.
After her victory, the 23-year-old girl wrote a message of support for Ukrainian fighters involved in the war against Russia in the lens of the TV camera. However, he knows he will be scrapped against the giant Zverev, who has gone through two grueling five-setters.
“Of course I enjoy playing against him,” Alcaraz said. “It’s always an uphill battle. I have to play my best level. They push me to play 100 percent every time.”
The seeds fell in the top half of the women’s draw, leaving only China’s Zheng. The 21-year-old is inspired by compatriot Li Na’s win in Australia in 2014 and encouraged her when she first spoke to the retired Chinese star in person in Melbourne.
