Daniil Medvedev and Ukrainian qualifier Dajana Jastremska have reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open. In doubles, Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer surprisingly made it to the last four. However, the Davis Cup double Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz were eliminated. The tennis highlight from a German perspective will be the quarter-final duel between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz (in the ticker from around 10.30 a.m.).
Daniil Medvedev won on Wednesday (January 24, 2024, local time) in a real show of strength after almost four hours against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7:6, 2:6, 6:3, 5:7, 6:4. In the fourth set the Russian was already ahead with a break, but seemed under the weather in temperatures of more than 30 degrees and allowed Hurkacz to come back into the match.
“I just want to go to bed,” Medvedev wrote on the camera in the interior as a farewell after the next tennis marathon. In the second round he was on the court until half past three in the morning in the five-set match against Emil Ruusuvuori.
Medvedev, seeded number three in Melbourne, could meet Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Germany’s number one will meet Carlos Alcaraz in the highly anticipated quarter-final duel in the night session.
Qualifier Jastremska in the semi-finals
The Ukrainian qualifier Dajana Jastremska made people sit up and take notice with her semi-final entry in Melbourne. The 23-year-old won against 19-year-old Czech Linda Noskova 6:3, 6:4 and became the first qualifier in 46 years to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open. Jastremska converted her first match point after 1:19 hours in the Rod Laver Arena and thus completed the greatest success of her tennis career to date.
“It’s nice to make history. I wasn’t even born in 1978,” said Jastremska after her confident performance. “It didn’t feel like I played really well. But I’m over the moon that I’m in the semi-finals.”
In the semifinals on Thursday, Jastremska will face either Russia’s Anna Kalinskaja or Zheng Qinwen from China. The other semi-final will be contested by defending champion Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and US Open champion Coco Gauff from the USA.
Quarterfinals women arrow right. Quarterfinals men arrow right
Double Hanfmann/Kopefer in the semi-finals: “It clicked”
In doubles, Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer surprisingly made it to the semi-finals. Hanfmann and Koepfer defeated Hugo Nys from Monaco and Jan Zielinski from Poland 6:4, 7:6 (7:3) and continued to be perfectly coordinated in Melbourne despite little doubles experience together.
“It just feels great, it’s a lot of fun. We want to keep it up,” said Koepfer, his partner Hanfmann added: “It just clicked in our game in these week and a half, we love it and are enjoying every second.”
Marcel Stober, Sportschau, January 24th, 2024 7:37 a.m
Hanfmann and Koepfer, who were eliminated in the singles in the first round, had already caused a sensation in the second round and surprisingly eliminated the Australian defending champions Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler.
Out for Krawietz/Pütz
The Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who defeated the German Davis Cup doubles Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz 7:5, 6:4, are now waiting in the fight for the final ticket. Krawietz was eliminated from the mixed doubles on Tuesday alongside his partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez from the USA, as was Laura Siegemund with her Belgian partner Sander Gille.
Bopanna number one in the doubles ranking – at 43 years old
Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna also reached the semi-finals with his partner Matthew Ebden – and became world number one in men’s doubles at the age of 43. “Thanks to my team, they had to go through difficult moments with me. Thanks to my partner Matthew. This is really special and will always be an incredible experience,” said Bopanna after the 6:4, 7:6 (7:5) -Success against the Argentinians Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni. Bopanna turns 44 in March and has been a professional for over 20 years.