Two-time Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev secured his spot in the quarter-finals by overcoming resilient opposition from Portugal’s Nuno Borges in a hard-fought battle on Rod Laver Arena.
The Russian, seeded third, endured a challenging encounter against the courageous world number 69, ultimately triumphing 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-1 in a match that extended beyond three hours.
Reflecting on the contest, Medvedev, a finalist in both 2021 and 2022, losing to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, acknowledged Borges’ tenacity. “Before this match, I was feeling 100 percent,” remarked Medvedev. “But he made me run in the third set, and that’s why I missed a little bit too much. I was pretty dead, to be honest. In the fourth set, I managed to raise my energy levels.”
Medvedev is now set to face Polish ninth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals as he strives for a place in the last four. The Russian’s baseline power was a notable factor in the first set, securing the only break in the sixth game as he dominated lengthy rallies.Borges displayed brave resistance, especially in the second set, yet Medvedev’s relentless groundstrokes proved decisive.
The turning point came in the tie-break of the second set, with Medvedev surviving a double fault to clinch the set. Although Borges mounted a comeback in the third set, breaking at a crucial moment, Medvedev responded emphatically in the fourth set, displaying a renewed vigor and sealing victory in just 24 minutes as Borges struggled to keep pace.
While Borges, at 26, became the first Portuguese player to reach the second week in Melbourne, Medvedev’s experience and baseline prowess ultimately propelled him to the quarter-finals. The match’s defining statistic was the unforced error count, with Borges accumulating 66 compared to Medvedev’s 34.
Reported By BBC Sports
