Novak Djokovic Didn't Submit Fake Positive COVID-19 Test, Serbian Prosecutors Say
Feb 2, 2022
FILE - Defending champion Serbia's Novak Djokovic practices ahead of the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 13, 2022. Weary after two years of some of the harshest COVID-19 border restrictions in the world, many Australians wanted Djokovic kicked out of their country for traveling to the tennis tournament without being vaccinated. But the backdrop to the government's tough line on the defending Australian Open champion and Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s description of the expulsion as a "decision to keep our borders strong" dates to nearly a decade ago. It also shines a light on Australia's complicated, and strongly criticized, immigration and border policies. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
Serbia's state prosecutors Wednesday denied claims that Novak Djokovic used a fake positive COVID-19 test to try to enter Australia and compete in the Australian Open last month, per Dusan Stojanovic of the Associated Press.
Jake Horton and Daniele Palumbo of BBC News reported the serial number on Djokovic's positive test was out of sequence from other tests taken in Serbia, and it was higher than it was for his negative test result six days later.
It could indicate irregularities with the positive test purportedly taken Dec. 16.
Djokovic is not vaccinated against COVID-19, but he applied for a visa exemption on the basis that he had recently recovered from the virus.
The prosecutors' office said in a statement that it received requests for criminal proceedings against individuals who allegedly forged two PCR certificates.
"The prosecution acted according to the regulations, checks were performed, and it was determined that Novak Djokovic was tested several times and that the certificates on the test results from December 16, 2021 and December 22, 2021 are valid," the statement said.
The Australian Open granted Djokovic's medical exemption to participate in the Grand Slam, but his visa was canceled upon his arrival. He later admitted that his travel declaration form contained incorrect information. After an appeal, his visa remained revoked. The decision was unanimously upheld by three Federal Court judges.
Djokovic was deported to Serbia, and Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open.
Australian Open 2022: Updated Prize Money Payouts from Melbourne
Jan 30, 2022
Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning the men's singles final match against Russia's Daniil Medvedev on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 31, 2022. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by MARTIN KEEP/AFP via Getty Images)
Thanks to the overwhelming support of the capacity crowd at Rod Lever Arena on Sunday, Rafael Nadal was able to summon the energy to battle back from two sets down and engineer the best comeback of his storied career to beat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to capture his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.
It was five hours and 24 minutes of nail-biting action, with the 35-year old Spaniard giving fans a masterclass of digging deep to fight to the finish.
Now Nadal stands alone with the most Grand Slam wins in men's tennis history.
It was as if the crowd at Melbourne Park knew they would be witnessing history. Even tennis great Rod Laver was on hand in the stadium that bears his name to take in the exciting final.
Throughout the night, Medvedev was in control, besting his opponent with his superior court position and ability to return serves. But in the end, it was Nadal who showed extraordinary resilience to turn Rod Laver Arena from a house of heartbreak to an arena of euphoria.
He has come up short on this same court many times since winning it in 2009. But now he finally has a second major triumph in Australia.
It wasn't that long ago that Nadal was doubting his return to the sport after dealing with a career-threatening foot injury.
To do what he did at this point in his career, having to come from behind after struggling mightily early on, showed why he is a legend of the sport.
"First of all I know it's a tough moment, Daniil, you are an amazing champion," Nadal said per Daniel Harris of The Guardian. He continued:
"I've been in this position a couple of times in this tournament, having chances to have the trophy with me, but I don't have any doubt that you have this trophy a couple of times in your career, because you're amazing, so I want to congratulate you. It was one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career and to share a court with you is just an honor, so all the best in the future.
"[Addressing the crowd] I even don't know what to say guys. For me, it's just amazing, being honest, one month and a half ago, I didn't know if I was going to be able to be back on the tour playing tennis again. And today I'm here in front of all you with this trophy with me, and you don't know how much I've fought to be here. I can't thank you enough for all the support I've had since I arrived here, you are just amazing."
Australian Open Prize-Money Payouts
There's likely no amount of money that would be enough to top winning a 21st Grand Slam title, but the Australian Open still has to pay out the prize money.
And in victory, Nadal will take home $2,071,064, which is slightly less than last year's $2.13 million.
So while the overall purse amount increased for this year's tournament, the individual payouts decreased.
Medvedev, for his efforts in the hard-fought match, will take home $1,134,583, which is down from $1.16 million in 2021.
Ashleigh Barty, the first Australian to win an Australian Open singles title since 1978, will, like Nadal, put $2,071,064 in her bank account.
"We're offering 17 professional events over four weeks," Tournament director Craig Tiley told Scott Spits of The Age in December. "You're going to be looking at a prize-money pool for four weeks for all of the events, more playing opportunities than ever before than we've had. The opportunities we're providing professional players, will be second to none."
Here's a complete look at the prize purse payouts for the 2022 Australian Open.
Men's and Women's Singles
Winner: $2,071,064
Runner-up: $1,134,583
Semifinalists: $644,731
Quarterfinalists: $387,919
Round 4: $236,281
Round 3: $159,202
Round 2: $110,937
Round 1: $74,198
Round 3 qualifying: $53,500
Round 2 qualifying: $35,500
Round 1 qualifying: $25,250
Men's and Women's Doubles
Winners: $486,250
Runners-up: $259,333
Semifinalists: $147,676
Quarterfinalists: $81,402
Round 3: $47,004
Round 2: $32,489
Round 1: $21,647
Mixed Doubles
Winners: $110,916
Runners-up: $62,853
Semifinalists: $33,275
Quarterfinalists: $17,768
Round 2: $8,866
Round 1: $4,630
Roger Federer Congratulates Rafael Nadal on Winning Historic 21st Grand Slam Title
Jan 30, 2022
Spain's Rafael Nadal smile as he holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup trophy following his victory against Russia's Daniil Medvedev in their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 31, 2022. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by Aaron FRANCIS / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by AARON FRANCIS/AFP via Getty Images)
There are clearly no hard feelings from Roger Federer about Rafael Nadal becoming the first man to win 21 Grand Slams.
Federer took to Instagram with a warm message for his longtime rival after Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in Sunday's 2022 Australian Open final:
Nadal holds a 24-16 overall record against Federer during their storied careers, including a 10-4 mark in Grand Slams. The Spaniard's win over Medvedev broke his tie with Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most Slams in men's tennis history.
Federer's future in tennis is currently murky, as he's missed most of the last two years with knee problems. The 40-year-old has maintained he plans to attempt a comeback this year, but it's fair to wonder if his days as a major championship competitor are over.
The same cannot be said for Nadal, who will likely head into the 2022 French Open as the favorite for his 14th championship at Roland Garros. His path in France could be even clearer if Djokovic is unable to enter the country because of his vaccination status.
Djokovic missed the 2022 Australian Open after being deported from Australia because he is unvaccinated for COVID-19 and did not meet the country's protocols to gain entry on an exemption. France recently enacted a strict vaccine law that could limit Djokovic's ability to play in the French Open if he is not inoculated.
Australian Open 2022 Men's Final: Winner, Score and Twitter Reaction
Jan 30, 2022
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after winning the third set against Daniil Medvedev of Russia during the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
There's nobody else like Rafael Nadal.
The legendary Spaniard won a men's-record 21st Grand Slam title Sunday, coming back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the men's singles final at the 2022 Australian Open in Melbourne.
Nadal's thrilling comeback broke a deadlock with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most career Grand Slam men's singles titles. His tally includes 13 French Open titles, four U.S. Open titles, two Wimbledon titles and now two Australian Open triumphs that came 13 years apart.
"I even don't know what to say guys. For me, it's just amazing, being honest. One month and a half ago, I didn't know if I was going to be able to be back on the tour playing tennis again," Nadal said after the match, per the Guardian's Daniel Harris and Luke McLaughlin. "And today I'm here in front of all you with this trophy with me, and you don't know how much I've fought to be here. I can't thank you enough for all the support I've had since I arrived here, you are just amazing."
Praise poured in for both Nadal and Medvedev following the instant classic.
A final of Herculean proportions, thank you for a brilliant contest @RafaelNadal and @DaniilMedwed. Two AO crowns and 21 majors, given everything you have endured this historic victory is so special Rafa. It has been a privilege to watch you doing what you love. Congratulations🚀
Nadal, 35, was something of a surprise finalist in Melbourne, as he spent several months last year sidelined by a chronic foot injury that had him considering retirement. He also tested positive for COVID-19 in December.
It's a tough loss to swallow for Medvedev, who was looking for his second Grand Slam title after beating Djokovic in the 2021 U.S. Open. He won more total points (189 to 182) and smashed more aces (23 to three) in the final, but Nadal's composure and shotmaking in the key moments helped him come out on top. The five-hour, 24-minute match is the second longest men's major final in the Open Era, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The first set was one-way action in favor of Medvedev. He was ruthless on serve and a stalwart as a returner playing from his deep-lying position. The lanky baseliner broke Nadal in the fifth and seventh games of the set to run away with it.
Nadal managed to find a groove in the second set. He broke Medvedev in the fourth game to go up 3-1, a feat that included a 40-shot rally capped off by a breathtaking backhand winner.
That game looked like it had the makings of an early momentum shift, especially with the crowd firmly behind Nadal and cheering his every point. Medvedev wasn't having any of it. He battled his way back into the set with a couple of breaks and then took a commanding lead by winning the tiebreaker.
With his back against the wall, Nadal showed why he's one of the best to have ever played the game. At 4-4 in the third set, Nadal got the break he desperately needed to go up 5-4. He then served to win the set, ripping some excellent forehand winners along the way.
The fourth set saw the lefty get more aggressive with his forehand, firing away at Medvedev and forcing the Russian to chase his shots all over the court. As the match approached the four-hour mark, Nadal looked much fresher than the player 10 years his junior. Medvedev's legs sagged as he dropped the fourth set 6-4 to set up the final frame.
Seriously, Rafael Nadal is just an insane human. He got absolutely marmalised, realistically, in the first set. He was broken twice, he looked knackered, his forehand had nothing.
Now he's back from the dead and must be favourite going into the fifth set.#AusOpen
Nadal drew first blood in the fifth game of the deciding set, hitting a wicked forehand winner to go up 3-2. The next game was a brutal, 13-minute war-within-a-war that saw Nadal save three break points to hold for 4-2.
Incredibly, that grueling game wasn't even the final twist in the drama. With Nadal serving for the match, Medvedev got a break to even it at 5-5. Not to be outdone in this epic, Nadal broke back to go up 6-5. He then served out to make history, sending the crowd at Rod Laver Arena into thunderous applause.
Despite the loss, Medvedev has established himself as one of the top male players in tennis with his run in Melbourne. He will continue to be a threat at Grand Slams for years to come.
As for Nadal, he can look to extend his lead in all-time Grand Slams on the clay courts of Roland-Garros in May and June.
Rafael Nadal Wins 2022 Australian Open; Overtakes Federer, Djokovic With 21st Title
Jan 30, 2022
Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after nearly hitting the umpire as he plays against Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their men's singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne early on January 31, 2022. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by William WEST has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [early on January 31, 2022.] instead of [on January 30, 2022.]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal has won the race to 21.
Nadal came from behind to earn a thrilling 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Daniil Medvedev to win the 2022 Australian Open. The Spaniard's victory breaks a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic for the most Grand Slams in men's tennis history.
If this proves to be the 35-year-old's final Slam triumph, he pulled out all the stops. Nadal dropped the first two sets and appeared in dire straits against the younger, more powerful Medvedev, who at times looked overwhelming.
In typical Nadal form, his resolve never wavered.
Over the course of a five-hour, 24-minute marathon, Nadal battled back, taking the third and fourth sets thanks to well-timed breaks before closing things out in the fifth. The match is the second-longest men's Slam final of the Open Era, trailing only the 2012 Australian Open final between Nadal and Djokovic.
With the match going well past the 1 a.m. local time mark, Nadal used his experience and guile in the fifth set to outlast the 25-year-old Medvedev. He went up a break and took momentum early in the set, sitting at 5-4 with a chance to close things out on serve.
Medvedev, unwilling to relent, stayed in the match with a break back of Nadal to knot things up at 5-5. Facing the prospect of falling behind in the fifth set, Nadal again rallied in a back-and-forth game that finally saw him earn a break after three attempts. He then closed the match on serve in relatively short order.
The final statistics of the match could hardly have been any closer. Nadal won 27 games to Medvedev's 26. Medvedev actually outpointed Nadal 189-182 but converted one fewer of their identical 22 break-point chances—a stat that ultimately decided the match.
Nadal has now won each Grand Slam at least twice, joining Djokovic, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as the only men to pull off the feat. His 18-year span between his first and most recent Grand Slam is also the second-longest in men's tennis history, behind only Ken Rosewall (20 years).
Nadal will head into the year's second major, the French Open, as the favorite for his 14th championship at Roland Garros. He has racked up an astonishing 105-3 record at the clay-court major and has won the event four of the last five years.
Djokovic got over the hump to defeat Nadal during last year's semifinal clash, but his status for the French Open remains unclear because of his vaccination status. The Serb was deported from Australia before the Open because he is unvaccinated, and France's new vaccine laws put him at risk of not being allowed into the country.
With Federer's future in tennis unclear at the moment, the field could be wide-open for Nadal to continue polishing up his GOAT resume in France.
Australian Open 2022: Men's Final TV Coverage, Live Stream and Pick
Jan 29, 2022
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Daniel Medvedev of Russia celebrates his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the semi-final of the men's singles during day 12 of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
Daniil Medvedev broke up the dominance of the Big Three of men's tennis when he won his first major at the 2021 U.S. Open.
Medvedev can pick up the rare back-to-back major titles that do not belong to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer if he beats Nadal in the 2022 Australian Open men's singles final.
Only once in the last 12 years have two players who are not Djokovic, Nadal or Federer won consecutive majors. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka won the final two majors of 2016.
Medvedev is also looking to become the first Russian man to win in Melbourne since Marat Safin in 2005. Safin's triumph Down Under came one major before Nadal took his first Grand Slam championship.
Nadal has a chance to take a lead over Djokovic and Federer on the list of the most men's singles titles in Grand Slam history.
The three-way tie at 20 titles will be hard to break since Nadal is 1-4 in Australian Open title matches.
Men's Singles Final Info
Date: Sunday, January 30
Start Time: 3:30 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN+ or ESPN app
Pick
Daniil Medvedev over Rafael Nadal in 4 Sets
Medvedev is far and away the better hard-court player than Nadal.
The 25-year-old Russian flexed his dominance on the surface when he beat Djokovic to capture the 2021 U.S. Open title.
Medvedev reached the final in each of the last three hard-court majors. He came into Melbourne as the favorite after Djokovic was ruled ineligible following the hearing over his visa status.
Medvedev defeated Djokovic in straight sets last fall in New York, and he fought Nadal in a five-set battle in the 2019 U.S. Open final.
Most of Nadal's major triumphs have come at the French Open or Wimbledon. He has five hard-court titles, and just one of them came Down Under.
Nadal last won the Australian Open in 2009, and he struggled against Djokovic, Federer and Wawrinka in his four championship losses in Melbourne.
Nadal's last final loss in Australia was a straight-set defeat at the hands of Djokovic three years ago.
The sixth-seeded Spaniard ran into a bit of trouble in the last two rounds. Denis Shapovalov took two sets off him in the quarterfinals, and Matteo Berrettini won a single set against him in the semifinals.
Nadal can't afford any mistakes against Medvedev, who looked sharp in his four-set win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last round.
Medvedev lost the second set to Tsitsipas and the first two sets of his quarterfinal match with Felix Auger-Aliassime, but he displayed terrific closing skill in both of those matches.
The No. 2 seed only lost five games to Tsitsipas and turned the tide of the Auger-Aliassime match with a third-set tiebreak win.
Medvedev can bank on that bounce-back skill if he loses a set to Nadal inside Rod Laver Arena.
In most situations against one of the Big Three, an argument could be made that Medvedev would feel more pressure in the championship match.
However, that may not be the case since he already conquered Djokovic and had some success in a final versus Nadal.
Nadal is facing pressure to win his 21st major and win for the first time in Australia since 2009 on his less preferred surface.
Medvedev has everything in his game to take down Nadal, and that should help him prevail Sunday.
Australian Open 2022: Nadal vs. Medvedev Final Set as Rafa Eyes Record 21st Major
Jan 28, 2022
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Matteo Berrettini of Italy in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev secured their spots on Friday in the 2022 Australian Open final.
The sixth-seeded Nadal got past No. 7 Matteo Berrettini in the first Friday semifinal by a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 score. Then the second-seeded Medvedev defeated No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
If Nadal wins Sunday's final, he will break a tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most career men's singles Grand Slam titles in the Open era with 21.
With no Djokovic in the tournament because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19 and no Federer because of a knee injury, the door was open for Nadal to make a run to the final.
It wasn't always easy, especially in the quarterfinals when he needed five sets to beat Canadian Denis Shapovalov, but now Rafa is one victory away from history.
Standing in his way is the 25-year-old Medvedev, who has arguably played better tennis than anyone since last summer.
Medvedev won last year's U.S. Open, which marked the first Grand Slam singles title of his career. If he can beat Nadal in the Aussie Open final, that will make it two major championships in a row.
Like Nadal, the Russian had some struggles en route to the final, as he needed at least four sets in all but two of his matches, including a five-set marathon against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarters.
Medvedev also lost his composure at times in a four-set win over Tsitsipas in the semis, even receiving a code violation for directing an obscenity toward the crowd, which was clearly in favor of Tsitsipas.
Nadal, who had to overcome a foot injury to play in the Australian Open, said during his post-match on-court interview that it is something that is still in the back of his mind: "Every day has been an issue in terms of problems on the foot. Doubts still here ... probably for the rest of my career. But for me it's amazing ... (to) just compete and play tennis at the high level again, facing the most important players of the world."
Despite all his success, Nadal only has one Australian Open title to his credit, although the 2009 champion has reached the final four other times, with the most recent coming in 2019.
Meanwhile, Medvedev is making his second consecutive appearance in the Australian Open final after losing to Djokovic last year.
In terms of head-to-head meetings, Nadal and Medvedev have faced each other only four times. The 35-year-old Nadal is 3-1, including a win in the 2019 U.S. Open final.
Medvedev will look to get revenge for that particular loss, but the stakes are even higher this time around since Nadal can establish himself as the most accomplished men's tennis player in history with a win.
Rafael Nadal Beats Matteo Berrettini to Advance to 2022 Australian Open Final
Jan 28, 2022
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Matteo Berrettini of Italy in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
Rafael Nadal advanced to the 2022
Australian Open men's final with a four-set victory over Matteo
Berrettini on Friday at Melbourne Park.
Nadal will have an opportunity to take
over the all-time record for men's Grand Slam titles when he faces
No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev in the championship match. He currently
shares the mark with longtime rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic
(20 each).
The 35-year-old Spanish fan favorite
will be playing his sixth Australian Open final and seeking his
second title, with the first coming in 2009.
Efficiency was the name of the game for
Nadal in the semifinal, and he needed every bit of it as Berrettini
put together a strong showing of his own despite the defeat.
The 25-year-old Italian, who's reached
at least the quarterfinals in four straight majors, held advantages
in both winners (38-28) and aces (14-5) to put a lot of pressure on
Rafa.
Nadal answered by recording just 19
unforced errors in 35 games. He also won 75 percent of points when
coming to net (12 of 16), 63 percent on his second serve (20 of 32)
and broke Berrettini four times while allowing just two break-point
chances.
Now the tournament's No. 6 seed gets another shot at a second
Australian Open title, something he didn't expect to happen.
"There were times I played amazing
finals with good chances—against Novak in 2012, against Roger
2017—I was close a couple of times,” Nadal told reporters. "I
feel very lucky that I won it once in my career in 2009, but I never
thought about another chance in 2022."
He'll face off against second-seeded Medvedev,
who won the final major of 2021 at the U.S. Open and scored a four-set
win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in Friday's other semifinal.
Nadal holds a 3-1 advantage in their
prior ATP Tour meetings, but Medvedev emerged victorious at their
most recent encounter at the 2020 ATP Finals.
The men's final is scheduled to take
place Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in Melbourne (3:30 a.m. ET in the U.S.).
Australian Open 2022 Results: Friday Bracket Winners, Scores and Top Stats
Jan 28, 2022
Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates after beating Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in their men's singles semi-final match on day twelve of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2022. - -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by MICHAEL ERREY / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by MICHAEL ERREY/AFP via Getty Images)
For the second time in as many years, Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas battled Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
For the second time in as many years, Medvedev bested his rival, extending his record against Tsitsipas to 7-2.
The match was not without controversy, including another coaching violation for Tsitsipas, but the Russian shook off an incredibly even start and midmatch rant to beat his opponent decisively and earn another trip to the finals.
The world No. 2 earned the victory in four, setting up a championship showdown with Rafa Nadal in which he should be the favorite.
Medvedev came back early in the match, erasing a 4-1 deficit in a tiebreak to win the first set.
He has never lost in the Australian Open after winning the first set, a record that now sits at 18-0.
After dropping the second set and earning a violation for a "visible obscenity," the Russian launched an accusatory rant at the umpire, claiming his opponent's father was consistently coaching.
MEDVEDEV BLOWS UP! 😡😡
The Russian has sensationally accused Tsitsipas of being coached and has GIVEN IT to the umpire over it too! 🤯🤯#AusOpen - live on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. pic.twitter.com/8Xa3qOjvnf
Speaking in his post-match, on-court interview, he said that letting the anger over the situation get to him is not something that fuels his play.
"To be honest I don't think bad emotions help me too much. Many times I lose the match because of this. You lose concentration. You lose too much energy. As soon as I've done it, I thought, 'That was a big mistake.'"
After a dicey start to the third set, Medvedev recomposed himself and won 6-4 when Tsitsipas went wide right on the set point. It was the last truly competitive moment of the match.
The fourth set brought about a coaching violation for Tsitsipas, vindicating his opponent. The violation was set up when Greek-speaking official Eva Asderaki-Moore, located in the tunnel just underneath Tstitsipas' box, signaled the umpire upon detecting the coaching in a fairly clever and elaborate sting operation.
🚨 Caught red-handed! 🚨
Check out the vision that shows the Tsitsipas camp caught in a STING by the umpires! 😲#AusOpen - live on Channel 9 and 9Now. Ad-Free Live & On Demand on Stan Sport pic.twitter.com/4AYq6oRp9b
From there, it was all Medvedev. The 2021 U.S. Open winner picked his opponent apart, cashing his ticket to his second consecutive Australian Open final.
The opponent for that match?
Spain's Rafa Nadal, who defeated Italy's Matteo Berrettini, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to advance.
For Nadal, the match with Medvedev is the culmination of a seemingly improbable run. At 35 years of age, coming off a devastating injury that sidelined him for six months and a bout of COVID-19 this past December, there was every reason to believe he would not make it as far as he has.
Now, he has an opportunity to break a three-way tie with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and become the first man to win 21 Grand Slams.
Rafa Nadal went through all the emotions after reaching his 29th Grand Slam final 🥺
At nearly 36 years old. After not playing for 6 months due to injury. On his supposedly weakest surface.
The emotion painting his face following his victory over Berrettini told the story of a legendary figure recognizing the arduous journey he has gone on to make it back to this moment and the realization that moments of this enormity are not to be taken for granted.
Beating Medvedev will not be easy, though.
The Russian is attempting to make history in his own right, becoming the first player to follow up his first Grand Slam victory immediately with his second, per tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg. He looks at it as a message to the tennis world, too, suggesting the top stars of the previous generation will be watching Sunday.
"What is funny is that I'm going against someone going for the 21st slam. I guess last time Rafa was watching near the TV and I think Novak will be watching this one also," he said on-court.
Nadal holds a 3-1 advantage over Medvedev in their previous matchups. Their biggest showdown to date was the 2019 U.S. Open final, won by Nadal in five sets.
Medvedev is a different player now than he was then, though. He's smarter, more tactical and capable of beating the best players in the world on the biggest stages. A win Sunday would put an exclamation point on his latest run and set him up to be the world's No. 1 sooner rather than later.
Australian Open 2022 Men's Final: TV Schedule, Start Time and Live Stream
Jan 28, 2022
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Matteo Berrettini of Italy in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Hamish Blair)
The 2022 Australian Open men's singles final will feature a member of the "Big Three" looking to set a men's record and an opponent looking for his second-straight trophy at a Grand Slam.
No. 6 Rafael Nadal punched his ticket to the climactic match by beating No. 7 Matteo Berrettini, 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in Friday's semifinal. It will be his sixth appearance in the final in Melbourne; he won it all back in 2009.
Nadal is tied with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most men's Grand Slam titles with 20. A second Aussie Open title would break the deadlock with his great rivals.
Standing in the way of Nadal and history is No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, who outlasted No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas in Friday's second semifinal match, winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Medvedev won his first major title at the 2021 U.S. Open by upsetting Djokovic. He can get his second if he takes down Nadal on Sunday. Here's how to watch.
2022 Australian Open Men's Singles Final
Where: Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia
When: Sunday, Jan. 30 at 3:30 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live stream: ESPN+
Nadal's Road to the Final
It's foolish to pick against Nadal in any Grand Slam tournament, but even he might've thought a finals appearance would be a bit ambitious considering his recent injury difficulties.
This is just Nadal's second tournament after returning from a chronic foot injury that sidelined him for several months and kept him out of last year's Wimbledon and U.S. Open. He even hinted at retirement. Rather than give up, the 35-year-old Spaniard soldiered on, got healthy and has returned to form rather quickly.
Nadal cruised through much of the first four rounds in Melbourne, dropping a lone set to No. 28 Karen Khachanov in his third match. Things got more difficult in the quarterfinal against No. 14 Denis Shapovalov.
After dropping the first two sets, Shapovalov put Nadal on the defensive and won the next two sets. Nadal looked like he might be destined for a third straight exit at the quarterfinals in this tournament, but he rallied to win the deciding set 6-3.
The match was apparently as exhausting as it looked, with Nadal saying it left him "completely destroyed," per Tennis World's Jovica Ilic. He must have recovered quickly because fatigue didn't seem to be much of an issue against Berrettini in the semifinal. Nadal's athleticism and skill shone through, helping him win long rallies like this one in the second set:
Berrettini put up a good fight and managed to take the third set off Nadal, but he couldn't sustain the level of play needed to beat the powerful lefty. After the match, Nadal talked about what it meant for him to have another shot at winning this tournament.
"I feel very lucky that I won once in my career in 2009, but I never thought about another chance in 2022. So I'll just try to enjoy the victory of today and then after tomorrow I'm going to try my best," he said in his on-court interview.
Now headed to the 29th Grand Slam final of his career, Nadal has a chance to make history.
Medvedev's Road to the Final
It's been quite the journey for Medvedev in Melbourne. The 25-year-old Russian has faced a mix of temperaments and playing styles through six rounds, but he's solved every riddle.
In the second round, Medvedev ran into the mercurial Australian Nick Kyrgios. The match featured outbursts from Kyrgios and some intriguing play, with Kyrgios mixing in some rare underhand serves to make Medvedev pay for his deep return position. Though Kyrgios did manage to win the third set, Medvedev was in control for long stretches of the match.
Medvedev then met Maxime Cressy in the fourth round, a rare practitioner of the serve-and-volley game. Cressy's charges to the net kept Medvedev off balance, and he managed to take a set. But, again, the world No. 2 persevered by keeping errors to a minimum and dominating when on serve.
The quarterfinal was a grueling five-set fight with No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian won the first two sets and had Medvedev on the brink in the third set. Medvedev managed to dig deep and win the third-set tiebreaker, then take the final two sets to win a match that lasted four hours and 42 minutes.
He got Tsitsipas in the semifinal. Medvedev won the first-set by razor-thin margins, with both men playing some of their best tennis.
This mesmerizing 34-shot rally in the ninth game is a good example:
MEDVEDEV BLOWS UP! 😡😡
The Russian has sensationally accused Tsitsipas of being coached and has GIVEN IT to the umpire over it too! 🤯🤯#AusOpen - live on Channel 9, 9Now and Stan Sport. pic.twitter.com/8Xa3qOjvnf
Tsitsipas was able to break Medvedev twice and win the second set, which led to Medvedev accusing him of receiving coaching from his father and taking out his frustrations on the match official:
This wasn't Medvedev's first outburst of the tournament—he loudly complained his match with Cressy was "boring" because of the amount of time the American was taking between points—but he never let his emotions get the best of him. He elevated his game and took down Tstitsipas in four sets to reach the final.
"Grand Slam finals are special ... I'm ready. I know that Rafa is a very strong player, I know I will need to show my best to try to win this match," Medvedev said after the win, per the Guardian's Luke McLaughlin.
Prediction
This will be the second meeting between Nadal and Medvedev in a Grand Slam final. Nadal won the first outing at the 2019 U.S. Open, besting Medvedev in five sets. That tournament was Medvedev's first big breakthrough at a Grand Slam. His game has only improved since then.
Nadal might be the sentimental favorite because he's close to making history, but he'll have to wait. Look for Medvedev to win the final and establish himself as a standard-bearer for a post-Big Three era (whenever that finally arrives). Nadal will simply have to set his sights on the French Open, his best tournament, to try for that 21st Grand Slam.
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