Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev beats heat to breeze into semi-finals
Russia's Daniil Medvedev smashes a forehand to Andrey Rublev on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Melbourne’s weather and compatriot Daniil Medvedev applied the blowtorch to Andrey Rublev, the world No.4 moving through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win.
In the battle of the Russians, Medvedev once again proved far too strong, powering to a 7-5 6-3 6-2 win – shortly before tournament organisers announced attendance for the remaining four days would be capped at 7477.
Medvedev will now play the winner of Wednesday night’s match between Rafael Nadal and Stefanos Tsitsipas for a tilt at the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
With Rublev having not won a set from his countryman in three previous outings, Medvedev was always going to be a warm favourite on Rod Laver Arena.
Looking forward to welcoming fans back to Melbourne Park tomorrow🙌with attendance capped at 7,477 for each session – approximately 50% capacity.
😷Masks required where physical distancing isn't possible. pic.twitter.com/7Txk0EiEJR
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021
But warm turned to hot in more ways than one as a noticeably distressed Rublev failed to cope with the upswing in Melbourne temperatures.
He went toe to toe with Medvedev for much of the first set, snatching back a break and staying on serve at 5-6.
Then a loose last game handed Medvedev the set and things quickly unravelled from there.
A 43-shot point in the sixth game of the second set appeared to take the sting out of Rublev’s play, the flame-haired Muscovite wilting thereafter in Melbourne’s afternoon sun.
What a set of tennis 🤯@DaniilMedwed has that look in his eye as he takes a 2⃣ sets to 0⃣ lead and inches closer to a semifinal berth 🇷🇺#AusOpen | #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/kDJWYFk86s
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 17, 2021
The Open had offered relatively mild summer weather for much of the tournament but on a day tipping 30 degrees the effects were obvious for Rublev.
At one change of ends he slumped into his chair and looked like he might not get back up.
It was in stark contrast to Medvedev, who appeared as though he could play all day, showing just why he is now on a 19-match winning run.
Medvedev is the second Russian man through to the last four with qualifier Aslan Karatsev to take on world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
-AAP