Australian Open, Daniil Medvedev goes to'hell and back

Daniil Medvedev went to hell and back: he seemed destined to suffer his first defeat of 2026, but instead… . Opposing Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan (No. 47 ATP), the Russian had to make a comeback after losing the first two sets (6-7 , 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3) to qualify for the round of 16 and thus clinch his eighth consecutive 2026 victory, on the heels of the title he won in Brisbane.

Aldo Seghedoni

It was an extraordinary match, clearly divided into two phases. In the first Fabian Marozsan came close to perfection, despite having broken serve in the opening game. The reaction was immediate, with the counterbreak and a series of very high-level exchanges, culminating in a beautifully played tie-break. On the other side Daniil Medvedev appeared to be struggling, foul and not very continuous, with numerous double faults and unforced errors. The first set won by the Hungarian therefore appeared more than justified.

We expected a quick response from the Russian, but in the second partial the music did not change. Medvedev continued to make mistakes, to often seek support from his corner and, as so often happens to him in moments of difficulty, to show obvious signs of nervousness, ending up surrendering the second fraction as well. At that moment the hypothesis of surprise began to take shape, not least because Marozsan was solid, precise and mentally very present, while his opponent struggled to find order.

The beginning of the third set made Medvedev fear the worst, as he was immediately broken. The reaction, however, was immediate: counterbreak and total change of attitude. From there we saw a more polished and compact Medvedev, effective on serve and more alert in the exchange. Waiting for the right moment, Daniil again snatched the serve from Marozsan and took the third set. In the fourth set he then dominated without argument, inflicting a clear 6-0 lead and stringing nine consecutive games. At that stage the Hungarian was unable to find countermeasures, missing virtually every offensive attempt.

The deciding set was a test of nerves and mental toughness. Marozsan was able to regain concentration for the last effort, but Medvedev was ready. The first few games were fought point by point, until Daniil placed the decisive break, after the first had been recovered. From there the Hungarian succumbed. A spectacular victory for Medvedev at the end of a real thriller. In the next round, the former world number one will face Learner Tien, fresh off his success over Nuno Borges (7-6 , 6-4, 6-2).