Daniil Medvedev roars back from two sets to love down to defeat Felix Auger-Aliassime in an Australian Open epic.
Meanwhile, Australian Open semifinalist Stefanos Tsitsipas was nearly flawless as he thrashed Jannik Sinner in their quarterfinal, but he revealed after the match that following surgery in November, his doctor did not expect him to be playing tennis now.
Earlier, New Zealand doubles player Michael Venus became the latest athlete to take aim at unruly Australian Open crowds and Australian star Nick Kyrgios for whipping them into a frenzy, calling the Australian an "absolute knob".
Look back on the blog as it unfolded.
Key events
- Medvedev advances to semis after epic comeback
- Medvedev on the brink
- Dominant Tsitsipas didn't expect to be playing Australian Open
- 'Circus': Vanquished opponent takes aim at Kyrgios, Aus Open crowds
- Swiatek wins epic quarterfinal
- Aussie men's pairs make history
- Kokkinakis and Kyrgios to get larger crowd for men's double semifinal
Live updates
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev advances to semis after epic comeback
It took until the quarterfinals for a man to win from two sets down at this year's Australian Open.
But tournament favourite, world number 2 and reigning US Open champion, Russia's Daniil Medvedev has done it.
The Russian roared back to defeat 21-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime win 6-7 (7/3), 3,6, 7,6 (7-2), 7-5, 6-4 and saved a match point with a booming serve in more than 4 hours on a stifling Rod Laver Arena.
Asked how he turned the match around Medvedev sheepishly told Jim Courier he thought about what world number one Novak Djokovic would do.
"I was not playing my best and Felix was playing unbelievable," Medvedev said.
"He was all over me to be honest.
"I did not really know what to do so I was like... actually, I don't know if people will like it but I told myself 'what Novak would do'?"
Early on it seemed likely Medvedev would wilt in the Melbourne heat and under the searing pressure his opponent was creating with a booming serve and massive forehands.
After taking the second set with a pair of aces — as he held to love and a Medvedev backhand sailed long — Aliassime pumped his fist.
Medvedev, slumped into his chair, crestfallen, his usually consistent game having crumbled.
It was a scene that belied his toughness.
The Russian, though often distracted, managed to stave off a break point early in the third and forced a tiebreak.
And up 2-1 with a minibreak the heavens opened and Medvedev went off court as the roof closed, when he came back he blasted through the breaker to force a 4th set.
Aliassime though did not seem like he would be denied and Medvedev was blowing up at the chair umpire about a technical glitch with the big screen when it showed Aliassime's face as the Russian was preparing to return.
"Stop being really stupid and put huge (inaudible) of Felix's face up before my return, how stupid can he be huh? Idiot," Medvedev said about the screen operator.
"You need to be really no brain to do that, it's unbelievable."
Aliassime then upped his level again as he dug deep to fight off a surging Medvedev.
The Canadian even had a match point when leading 5-4, Medvedev snuffed that out with a ruthlessly massive and unreturnable first serve.
Aliassime then saved three set points before Medvedev took the 4th.
The 5th set though was mostly all Medvedev, he had the momentum early and appeared set to charge to the finish line before Aliassime threw in one last desperate bid.
Medvedev had to save two break points before serving out a famous victory and booking a semifinal battle with Stefanos Tsitsipas.
By Paul Johnson
Thank you for joining us
Wow what a day.
This Australian Open just keeps delivering on the court.
We'll be back tomorrow for the men's doubles semifinals with Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell all in action.
Dylan Alcott's final match on Rod Laver Arena
And of course Ash Barty's semifinal.
Today was big with the highlights being the Medvedev/Auger-Aliassime epic, Stefanos Tsitsipas's brilliant victory and the ongoing drama with Kyrgios and the crowds at this Australian Open.
Good night.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev takes the break in the 5th
Double fault from Aliassime and Medvedev has a service break early in the 5th set as the clock ticks past the 4-hour mark.
That has to hurt the young Canadian. But will it break his spirit?
By Paul Johnson
Going the distance
The 4th set was more of the same as the pair traded massive serves and big forehands befopre Medvedev took ther set 7-5.
Early on Aliassime was locked in and Medvedev was still allowing himself to be distracted by the crowd and also the big screen, when an error flashed up the face of the Canadian, as the Russian was preparing to return.
Medvedev complained to the umpire and called the screen operator an "idiot".
"Stop being really stupid and put huge (inaudible) of Felix's face up before my return, how stupid can he be huh? Idiot," Medvedev said about the screen operator.
"You need to be really no brain to do that, it's unbelievable."
But when he needed to he buckled down, facing match point at 4-5 he hit an absolute bomb of a serve that Aliassime could barely get his racket on.
He then broke the Canadian in the next game held serve to send the match into a 5th and final set.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev takes the 3rd
Just some slight nerves there from Aliassime and Medvedev takes the third set tiebreak 7-2.
He then tries to fire up himself and or the crowd with a big wave of his arms as if to say 'I am not going anywhere' but he is still trying to do what no man has done at this tournament.
That is, to come back from 2 sets down to win in 5.
How will Aliassime respond though? That might be the even bigger question.
By Paul Johnson
And it's raining
Third set tiebreak 2-1 to Medvedev with the mini-break and the roof is being closed.
Australian Open officials may have some questions to answer on this one after having closed the roof earlier in the match.
Poor timing.
By Paul Johnson
On serve in the 3rd
There's been a few momentum swings in this set but the players are on serve at 4-3 to Medvedev.
The Russian is the only one to face a break point but he saved it to this stage, Aliassime has looked strong but Medvedev is beginning to find his range.
By Paul Johnson
Medvedev on the brink
Felix Auger-Aliassime has taken a two sets to love lead over the favourite for the men's singles title in world number 2 Daniil Medvedev.
The 21-year-old Canadian broke Medvedev early in the second set and continued to serve brilliantly to give himself a 7-6, 6-3 lead over the reigning US Open champion.
Aliassime served 2 aces as he held to love to close out the set, pumping his fist as a Medvedev backhand sailed long.
Medvedev comparatively looked crestfallen and confused as his usually consistent game deserted him.
If he is to keep his hopes of a maiden Australian Open title alive, Medvedev will have to do something he has only ever done once in his career — come back from 2 sets down.
He achieved that at Wimbledon last year in the third round as he beat Croatia's Marin Cilic.
But it's something that has not been achieved by any player at this year's Australian Open.
Meanwhile Aliassime has never beaten Medvedev in 3 previous encounters.
And for what it's worth Aliassime has lost from this position before.
Last year at Melbourne Park he threw away a two-set lead to go down to Russia's Aslan Karatsev
63 61 36 36 46
By Paul Johnson
Aliassime up a set and a break
And the question now becomes is Daniil Medvedev about to break mentally?
With the Canadian up 7-6, 3-0 some in the crowd have been on Medvedev and he looks rattles less by them but more the way his opponent is playing.
The Russian also sarcastically clapped the crowd after Medvedev was broken in the second game as he missed a forehand wide.
By Paul Johnson
First set Aliassime
What was that I was saying about his tiebreak record?
Oh yeah, it's brilliant. You can't help but think the 21-year-old might want a few more of them in this match.
He's up 1 set to 0 and Medvedev might just be feeling the pressure a little.
Here's how good he looks.
By Paul Johnson
Breaks traded, to the tiebreak
Aliassime served for it but was broken after he broke Medvedev, still this is pretty tight and the Russian is now talking to himself.
By Paul Johnson
Aliassime won't mind a tiebreak here
This one is going with serve early as the players look to feel things out.
No break points yet either as the serve is dominating and if you're the rising Canadian star you have to be feeling pretty good about that.
Aliassime has played six tiebreakers this tournament and he has won 5 of them.
He also won all 3 breakers he played at the ATP Cup.
As for Medvedev he is 4/7 this summer in breakers.
By Paul Johnson
Some reader views on Kygs and Kokkinakis
Mr Venus, every Australian knows Kyrgios is an immature dill. He has achieved the success he is mentally capable of. Totally insecure against his peers.
-Phillip
For it’s worth I’m absolutely loving the personalities of Special K and the crowd behaviour. This is what tennis needs now and into future as the retirements of the big three loom. Turn it into a sport of the people and let rip. The mens doubles has been the sporting of the summer, and it’s been an ashes summer. Tennis needs to wake up
-Dangerous Dave
Well done the Ks. Hope you get a good crowd.
-Merrowyn
By Paul Johnson
Dominant Tsitsipas didn't expect to be playing Australian Open
Yesterday's men's singles quarterfinals both went the distance but today Stefanos Tsitsipas made a statement that he is ready to fight for his maiden grand slam title.
The Greek fourth seed was nothing but impressive as he routed rising Italian star Jannik Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in fast fashion.
With his serve and forehand firing, allowing him to attack the net at will, Tsitsipas brought a game for which Sinner had zero answers.
"I am very happy with the way I involved my tactics in the match," Tsitsipas said
And he should have been, Sinner also had no answer to some utterly crazy Tsitispas winners, like this backhand pass.
It was total domination and the statistics showed it to be true.
Tsitsipas led in almost every category and most impressive was his serve.
Sinner never achieved a break point in the match, while Tsitsipas converted on 100 per cent of the break point chances he had and won 79 per cent of points on his first serve.
The Greek star also smacked 30 winners to Sinner's 18 and as the commentators said, he was "almost unplayable".
The performance was made all the more remarkable by what Tsitsipas had to say post match.
Having undergone elbow surgery in November, the Greek star told Channel Nine's Jim Courier neither Tsitsipas nor his doctor thought he would play the Australian Open.
"I am pretty sure my doctor is watching right now, he has been sending me texts after every single game," Tsitsipas said.
"Frank, we both didn't expect for me to participate at the Australian Open, it was not part of our plan.
"He told me 'I don't see you playing in Australia' but I proved him wrong."
By Paul Johnson
Tsitsipas takes the second
Another early break and another cruisy set for the Greek star who is yet to face a break point on his serve through the match.
He leads this 6-3, 6-4 and is cruising towards a semifinal berth.
By Paul Johnson
'Circus': Vanquished opponent takes aim at Kyrgios, Aus Open crowds
Vanquished doubles opponent of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, New Zealand's Michael Venus, has joined the long list of players to take issue with the on-court behaviour of Kyrgios and the Australian Open crowds.
Venus, who along with his partner Tim Puetz, went down in three sets to the Australian pair has launched a strong tirade at Kyrgios in particular on TVNZ.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis had whipped the Kia Arena crowd into a frenzy and Kyrgios in particular was encouraging them to make more noise as Venus was serving for the second set.
His actions at the time drew criticism from Nine's commentators and many on social media.
A day later and 2017 French Open doubles champion Venus cut loose.
"It felt like a circus out there, and not really a tennis match," Venus said.
"Between serves, [they were] geeing the crowd up and getting them to cheer at times like that. I don't think that's really on.
"You know if it's on the other foot, old mate [Kyrgios] would have flipped his lid."
While the crowds at Melbourne Park and their behaviour, particularly during Kyrgios's matches has been an issue, Venus took specific aim at Kyrgios, who on Tuesday claimed he had grown up a lot and is a "role model" for the youth of Australia.
Venus, while he praised the skills of Kyrgios felt that was clearly not the case and called him "an absolute knob".
"His maturity level, it's probably being generous to about a 10-year-old, it's at about that level" Venus said.
"He's an amazing tennis player and his tennis IQ, what he can do on the court it is amazing and at that side of things he is one of the best players in the world but on the maturity side, you see why he's never fulfilled his potential and probably never will."
By Paul Johnson
Tsitsipas takes opening set
Stefanos Tsitsipas has started his quarterfinal against Jannik Sinner in fine form.
The Greek star has been attacking the net almost at will and took advantage of an early service break to take the opening set 6-3 against the rising Italian star.
By Paul Johnson
Swiatek wins epic quarterfinal
Iga Swiatek has come back from a set down for the second time in as many matches to advance to the Australian Open semifinals.
The women's seventh seed overcame a staggering 12 double faults and the big-time threat of Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi to prevail 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 in over 3 hot hours on Rod Laver Arena.
Swiatek may have already won a grand slam title at the 2020 French Open but she was far from assured against Kanepi, who took her to the limit as she looked to continue a giant-killing run in which she already claimed the scalps of world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.
Kanepi took advantage of Swiatek's errors in the opening set, landing a blow on her only break point after Swiatek squandered several.
Swiatek admitted she had been left frustrated and somewhat flat.
"I had so many break points that I felt like I missed my chances because she has broken me on her first break point and I had, like, I don't know, five," she said.
"I was pretty annoyed."
Kanepi even went up a break in the opening game of the final set but the match was never over until an epic last point where she could just not put the ball away and Swiatek dug out some deep lobs before the Estonian sent a backhand wide.
Swiatek had served for the match at 5-2 but was broken by Kanepi before she broke the 36-year-old again to take the match.
It was a sweet victory for Swiatek but for Kanepi it was a 7th loss at this stage of the tournament, with no grand slam semi-finals to her name in what has been a long career.
For Swiatek though she just wanted to thank her fans with a large Polish contingent in attendance at Melbourne Park.
"I know that Polish fans are watching me, they're really involved ... hopefully when COVID is over we're going to be able to do, I don't know, some meetings or stuff."
By Paul Johnson
Aussie men's pairs make history
For the first time since 1985 two all Australian pairs have made the men's doubles semifinals.
Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell joined Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the semis with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-6) victory over the 10th-seeded pair Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and Briton Neal Skupski.
The Aussies were up an early break in the final set before the seeded pair fought back to send the quarterfinal to a match tiebreak, which the Australians eventually prevailed in.
"We are feeling really good," Ebden said following the victory.
"Till the end we just hung tough, I made a few returns, Maxxy popped a few aces and the crowd did the rest."
Purcell also paid tribute to the crowd.
"You guys were awesome, you picked us up late in the match."
They will now play second seeds Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, who earlier made light work of Italian pair Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli 6-3, 6-2.
Purcell said they know what to expect, having lost to the duo in a tense US Open quarterfinal last year.
"We know what to expect, we are in the semis, anything can happen and we have got a home crowd."
Back in 1985 the Australian pairs to make the semis were 1976 Australian Open singles champion Mark Edmondson and his partner Kim Warwick along with the duo of Craig Miller and Laurie Warder.
Neither pair won with Edmondson and Warwick losing the final in four sets to the US/South African pair of Paul Annacone and Christo van Rensburg.
