Daniil Medvedev stays in rivalry for his first Australian Open title after dispatching native veteran John Millman in straight units.
A wild first set included seven breaks of serve earlier than Medvedev – the overwhelmed finalist in every of the previous two years at Melbourne Park – asserted his authority in a 7-5 6-2 6-2 victory.
It units up a possible conflict with American Sebastian Korda, the twenty ninth seed, who takes on Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki.
The high-quality encounter on Wednesday night time featured a sequence of lengthy rallies, with Medvedev later conceding he feared he may not be capable to go the space with Millman.
“Physically for both of us, it was tough,” Medvedev mentioned in his on-court interview.
“One moment in the first set I (wondered) how I’m going to handle this.
“I used to be already fairly drained and simply needed to attempt to proceed.”
He added: “Sometimes I cramp and generally I’m not robust sufficient to complete the matches, however this match I felt wonderful bodily.”
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for seventh seed Medvedev on Margaret Court Arena, where he had his serve broken three times by Millman in the first set.
But Medvedev was otherwise solid on serve, sending down 10 aces to Millman’s none in a contest that lasted two hours and 19 minutes.
“It was an incredible match. The rating within the second and third (units) does not replicate all the pieces that went on the courtroom,” Medvedev mentioned.
“First set he managed to interrupt me 3 times.
“That’s not that often that it happens, so I must be a little bit disappointed with myself.
“But he performed wonderful, so large credit score to John.”
Millman, who required a wildcard after falling to No.140 in the rankings, has twice been to the third round at his home slam – in 2016 and 2020.
The 33-year-old Queenslander saved two match points on his own serve in a fighting display before Medvedev served out the match.
The 2021 US Open winner is but to drop a set at Melbourne Park this week.
