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Australian Open 2023: Daniil Medvedev ‘messed up’ in shock Sebastian Korda exit

Daniil Medvedev has made the last two Australian Open finals but a troubling trend has continued in absolutely wild scenes.

8 min read
January 21, 2023 - 6:34AM
Daniil Medvedev is out. Photo: Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev is out. Photo: Getty Images

Daniil Medvedev has been bundled out of the Australian Open after an astonishing ambush from 29th seeded American Sebastian Korda.

But it wasn’t just that Korda entered the round of 16, it’s how he did it — claiming a straight sets 7-6 6-3 7-6 win.

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The 7th seeded Medvedev, who played the last two Australian Open finals, was no match for the 22-year-old American.

It will also see the Russian, who spent 16 weeks as World No. 1 last year, slide out of the top 10, with No. 12 the best case scenario.

Korda has an incredible pedigree as the son of 1998 Australian Open champion Petr Korda and former World No. 26 Regina Rajchrtova, the brother of former women’s golf world No. 1 Nelly and women’s golf No. 18 Jessica.

“I am definitely the worst athlete in the family so far,” Korda laughed.

But it was his night, and he appeared stunned by the moment.

“First of all, thank you guys for the atmosphere and for supporting,” he said. “It was an unbelievable match. I kind of knew what I had to do. I stuck with it. Even when I was going up and down with the emotions but I’m thrilled right now. I played amazing. Unbelievable match for me.”

What a night for Korda! Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
What a night for Korda! Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Medvedev was no match for Korda. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Medvedev was no match for Korda. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The result means that all four singles finalist from last year are all out after Danielle Collins was beaten earlier in the day.

It’s been another huge day at the Open with several big name stars dropping out.

Eleventh seed Cam Norrie’s loss to Jiri Lehecka was the biggest blow of the day with seeds taking out their own in other matches.

18th seed Karen Khachanov defeated 16th seed Frances Tiafoe, while 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz ended 20th seed Denis Shapovalov’s tournament.

Sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also beat 28th seed Francisco Cerundolo.

In the women’s, two-time Australian Open champion and 24th seed Victoria Azarenka defeated American 10th seed Madison Keys, while 13th seed and 2022 finalist Danielle Collins was knocked out by Wimbledon champion and 22nd seed Elena Rybakina.

1.42am – ‘Netflix curse lives on’: Sakkari crashes out

The Netflix curse has taken another player as 6th seed Maria Sakkari crashed out of the tournament against Chinese World No. 87 Zhu Lin in a 7-6 1-6 6-4 win.

Sakkari and Felix Auger-Aliassime were the only players who participated in the Netflix documentary Break Point left in the draw, but it’s now down to only the Canadian as it appears near impossible for those who participated in the documentary to make it out of the first week of competition.

Sakkari looked out of sorts through the match, perhaps with the match starting after 11pm.

The two hour 33 minute clash ended the perfect way with Zhu in tears during her on-court interview.

11.29pm – ‘Messed up’: Medvedev’s Aus Open disaster

Daniil Medvedev is facing an early exit as 22-year-old American Sebastian Korda opened up a big lead against last year’s runner up.

Korda has claimed the opening two sets 7-6 6-3 and is on fire.

Meanwhile, the Russian star is struggling to get going against the 29th seed after Korda claimed the first set in a rollercoaster tie-break before opening up a break in the second set.

It’s an unexpected result for Medvedev, who has made the last two finals at Melbourne Park.

However, it would follow the trend which has seen seeded players falling like flies.

Medvedev was struggling with an arm injury earlier in the match and it appears to have caused quite a bit issue for the Russian star.

10.46pm – ‘Crazy’: Another top seed falls

Frances Tiafoe is out of the Australian Open, going down in a wild thriller against Karen Khachanov.

The 16th seeded Tiafoe was playing the 18th seed Khachanov and one of course had to bow out but the pair put on a thrilling show.

Khachanov took a 6-3 6-4 lead before Tiafoe bounced back to with the third 6-3.

But the fourth went to a tie-breaker with the American rushing out to a 6-1 lead in the tie-break and almost certain to push it to a deciding set. But the Russian closed it out in an 11-9 tie-break, securing his first fourth round appearance in Melbourne.

Khachanov was joined by 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz, who edged past 20th seed Denis Shapovalov 7-6 6-4 1-6 4-6 6-3.

9.30pm – Champ’s touching gesture

Victoria Azarenka is into the fourth round after claiming an upset 1-6 6-2 6-1 win over 10th seed Madison Keys.

Melbourne has been a happy hunting ground for Azarenka, who won her two grand slam titles at the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013.

And she clearly hasn’t forgotten about achieving the ultimate success at Melbourne Park a decade ago.

Walking down the players’ tunnel after the win over Keys, Azarenka was searching for her name on the famous honour roll of past champions that lines the walls of the tunnel.

She asked: “Where’s mine?” before eventually seeing her name and muttering. “there it is”, with a smile.

6.45pm – World No. 1’s huge statement

Iga Swiatek has booked her place in the round of 16 with a brutal 6-0 6-1 demolition job against Cristina Busca.

The World No. 1 won the first set in just 23 minutes and closed out the match in 55 minutes.

Swiatek will take on reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.

Rybakina defeated last year’s runner-up Danielle Collins in straight sets, while Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko and Jessica Pegula all won their third round matches comfortably.

Iga Swiatek is on fire. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)
Iga Swiatek is on fire. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP)

3.15pm – Sinner, Tsitsipas win

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner have set up a mouth-watering fourth round clash after they both won their third round matches on Friday.

Tsitsipas cruised through in straight sets (6-2 7-6 6-3) against Tallon Griekspoor, but it wasn’t so straightforward for Sinner.

The Italian young gun lost the first two sets to Márton Fucsovics but flicked a switch to win the next three sets in less than two hours.

Tennis writer Jose Morgado said Sinner “entered PlayStation mode” in the third set.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is in fine form. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)
Stefanos Tsitsipas is in fine form. (Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

12.20pm – Early upset looming

World number 78 Marton Fucsovics set tongues wagging after his opening round clash when he ripped his shirt off and showed off his hulk like figure.

Now the man who wouldn’t like out of place in a body building competition has 15th seed Jannik Sinner in trouble in their third round encounter.

Fucsovics took the opening set 6-4 and currently leads 3-1 in the second after capturing an early break of serve.

12pm – Murray hates sleep

Andy Murray has been spotted in the hallways under Rod Laver Arena merely four hours after he would have got to bed following his epic 4am win over Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday night.

Just after 11:30am the Brit was seen strolling around Melbourne Park showing no signs of having played the most arduous match of his career.

11.30am – Fans lewd sex gesture stops broadcast

An Australian Open fan has disrupted Eurosport’s coverage inside Melbourne Park after he walked up behind a presenter on Thursday.

Barbara Schett was attempting to preview the upcoming day’s play when the man appeared over her left shoulder.

The former world number seven was completely unaware as to what was unfolding behind her as the man began making the lewd gesture with both his hands and mouth.

Camera crews worked quickly to move the individual on but not before the feed had cut away before returning to Schett who carried on with coverage as normal.

Lewd sex act gesture stops broadcast
Lewd sex act gesture stops broadcast

10.30am – ‘Most insane point ever’ clip goes viral

Tennis fans were treated to a vintage performance from Andy Murray on Thursday night as the three-time Grand Slam winner wound back the clock.

Down two-sets to love, the British star pulled off a comeback for the ages. But it was one rally that had fans in utter disbelief.

With Thanasi Kokkinakis leading 2-0 in the third set, Murray held a break point and in what can only be described as a miracle, won the point he simply had no right to win.

Kokkinakis was in complete control of the point shortly after his serve, sending Murray scrambling back and forth across the court lobbing the ball up over and over again.

It was Murray’s fourth scrambled lob that found the baseline and sent Kokkinakis back before his forehand slammed into the net.

The Aussie smashed his racquet into the court as the Brit fired the crowd up by putting his hand to his ear and saying he couldn’t hear them.

The insane moment whipped around social media racking up the views as fans were left stunned by what the 35-year-old had just pulled off.

Podcast host Jason Romano wrote: “This is one of the most insane points I’ve ever seen in tennis.”

NBC journalist Joe Prince-Wright wrote: “Absolutely bonkers!”

The Times’ Stuart Fraser wrote: “Madness here. It’s almost 1am and metal-hipped Andy Murray is producing this.”

10am – Carnage leaves big names eager to cash in

World number one Iga Swiatek and title rival Jessica Pegula are both in action at the Australian Open on Friday, while Coco Gauff is another attempting to reach round four.

They will be hoping to avoid the upsets that have shaken up the first Grand Slam of the year.

Most of the carnage has come in the men’s draw, where defending champion Rafael Nadal and second seed Casper Ruud are both out.

Women’s second seed Ons Jabeur followed them out of Melbourne Park late on Thursday in round two.

Poland’s Swiatek will hope to take full advantage as she pursues a fourth Grand Slam crown — but first in Melbourne.

She will be expected to make light work of 100th-ranked Spaniard Cristina Bucsa. Also on day five, in-form American Pegula faces Ukraine’s 61st-ranked Marta Kostyuk, also on Margaret Court Arena.

On Rod Laver Arena, the 18-year-old Gauff, the seventh seed, goes up against fellow American Bernarda Pera.

Swiatek is out to add more hardware. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
Swiatek is out to add more hardware. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)

Also on centre court will be an intriguing encounter between 24th seed Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, and 10th-seeded American Madison Keys.

Danielle Collins, who lost last year’s final to now-retired Ashleigh Barty, is another American player in action.

She faces a test in 22nd seed Elena Rybakina, last year’s Wimbledon champion. In an unpredictable men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas will look to take full advantage of the depleted field.

Novak Djokovic is the hot favourite to win the title for a record-extending 10th time, but both men can stake their claim on Friday.

Third seed Tsitsipas of Greece, who is yet to win a Grand Slam, plays 63rd-ranked Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor on Rod Laver Arena in the third round.

He has enjoyed strong support from Melbourne’s Greek community and says it is like playing at home.

The final match of the day could be the best of all, teeing up Russia’s Medvedev against dangerous 29th seed Sebastian Korda of the United States.

Seventh seed Medvedev, a former world number one, is determined to go one better this time.

He has lost the last two finals at Melbourne Park and went down in a five-set thriller to Nadal last year.

– AFP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open-2023-live-draw-schedule-scores-results-news-day-five/news-story/b87c931526755389191e197b22bde6c2