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sports Saturday 29 January 2022

Nadal, Medvedev to meet in history-making Australian final

Daniil Medvedev of Russia, left, gestures to chair umpire during his semifinal match; and Rafael Nadal of Spain, right, reacts during his semifinal match at the Austra-
lian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022.
Associated Press

By JOHN PYE the second set of the semi- losing in the French Open in his on-court interview. I am today, I really can't
AP Sports Writer finals. semifinals to Novak Djokov- "I have been a little un- explain in words how im-
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The Russian yelled at chair ic, and didn't play at all af- lucky (here) in my career portant is for me in terms of
— Rafael Nadal is within umpire Jaume Campistol in ter August. with some injuries. I played energy, in terms of personal
one victory of a men's re- the changever after serv- "Every day has been an is- some amazing finals with satisfaction, in terms of be-
cord 21st Grand Slam sin- ing a double-fault to con- sue in terms of problems on good chances." ing very thankful," Nadal
gles title. cede a late break, getting the foot. Doubts still here ... He lost classic five-set fi- said. "For me it's something
He'll have to beat second- a code violation for a visible probably for the rest of my nals at Melbourne Park completely unexpected."
seedeed Daniil Medvedev obscenity when he made a career," Nadal said. "But for to Djokovic in 2012 and He said he was taking a
in the Australian Open final gesture with his arm to the me it's amazing ... (to) just Federer in '17. Nadal lost different approach to life
on Sunday to make history. pro-Tsitsipas crowd, and compete and play ten- to Stan Wawrinka in 2014 now, but not at game time.
And Medvedev is chas- then demanded that his nis at the high level again, and against Djokovic three "Of course always with
ing a piece of history of his opponent be cautioned facing the most important years ago. competitive spirit that I
own after beating Stefanos for receiving coaching players of the world." "I feel very lucky that I won have, because I can't go
Tsitispas 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 from his father — in Greek Last month, he wasn't even once," he said. "I never against that. It's my per-
in a heated semifinal on Fri- — from the stands. sure he'd be able to return thought about another sonal DNA," he said. "But
day. The U.S. Open cham- Medvedev returned after to the tour. But he won a chance in 2022." in some way, I don't know,
pion is aiming to be the first Tsitsipas converted his third tune-up tournament in Mel- Nadal broke Berrettini's just be what I am and be
man in the Open era to win set point to level the match bourne and has taken six opening service games in able to have the chance
his second Grand Slam title and he again urged the straight matches at the first the first two sets and, after to compete at this level, it's
at the next major tourna- umpire to give the French Grand Slam event of the dropping the third set on a a positive energy for me to
ment. Open runner-up a code year. rare service lapse, he ral- keep going."
Nadal advanced to the fi- violation. One more and he'll break lied to finish off the match Medevedev will need to
nal in Australia for the sixth He then took a five-minute the record of 20 major in just under three hours. take a calmer approach
time with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 break, took control late championships he shares That in itself was a relief af- after beating Tsitsipas in the
win in a mostly lopsided in the third set and then with Roger Federer and No- ter his long quarterfinal win semifinals for the second
contest against seventh- reeled off the last five vak Djokovic. over Denis Shapovalov. year in a row at Melbourne
seeded Matteo Berrettini in games after Tsitsipas was Nadal would also become Nadal was the only mem- Park.
the first of the men's semifi- eventually cautioned for just the fourth man to win ber of the so-called Big He lost to Djokovic in last
nals. coaching. all four Grand Slam titles at Three who had a chance year's final, but then beat
Medvedev had a more Nadal's run to a 29th Grand least twice. to break the deadlock in the No. 1-ranked player for
tempestuous and challeng- Slam final has been com- Nadal's win over Wimble- Australia this time. the U.S. Open title.
ing run to back-to-back paratively serene. don runner-up Berrettini, Federer is out while recov- He said he regretted his
Australian Open finals. He After the last point, he under a closed roof at Rod ering from knee surgery. outbursts at the umpire, ex-
had to deal with a hostile stopped, beamed a wide Laver Arena, because of Djokovic, who has won plaining it was in the heat
crowd in his second-round grin and then punched the heavy rain, was his 500th nine of his Grand Slam titles of the moment in a very
win over Nick Kyrgios, had air three times. on hard courts at tour level. at Melbourne Park, was emotional tournament.
to save a match point and Nadal arrived in Australia But he's only won the Aus- deported after an 11-day "I'm going to play again
rally from two sets down to not knowing how long he tralian Open once, in 2009, visa saga on the eve of the against one of the great-
beat Felix Auger-Aliassime would last after months off and adding a second was tournament because he est," Medvedev said of
in a nearly five-hour quar- the tour dealing with a se- his primary focus. failed to meet Australia's Sunday's final. "Again, I'm
terfinal win. Then he had rious foot injury and then "For me, it's all about the strict COVID-19 vaccina- going to play somebody
to regain his composure a bout of COVID-19. He Australian Open more than tion requirements. going for the 21st Slam. I'm
after an angry outburst in skipped Wimbledon after anything else," Nadal said "To be able to be where ready."q