Australian Open: Vintage Stan Wawrinka stuns Daniil Medvedev

Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka turned back the clock to stun world number four Daniil Medvedev.

Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland serves during his fourth-round win against world No 4 Daniil Medvedev on Monday. Picture: AAP

Former Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka turned back the clock in a vintage performance to stun world No 4 Daniil Medvedev on Monday and book himself a spot in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

The popular Swiss star, who beat Rafael Nadal in the 2014 decider, dug deep to come from behind in five intense sets and win 6-2 2-6 4-6 7-6 (7/2) 6-2.

Watch over 50 sports LIVE on Kayo! Stream to your TV, mobile, tablet or computer. Just $25/month, cancel anytime. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

“Another amazing match,” said Wawrinka, who is into his 18th grand slam quarter-final, behind only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray among active players.

“The level was super-high and atmosphere is so special here in Australia. It’s amazing to still be playing and at that level. I’m really happy with what I’m doing on the court.”

Three-time grand slam champion Wawrinka has not won a title since pocketing the 16th of his career on the Geneva clay in 2017, with two bouts of surgery on his left knee pushing him to the brink of retirement.

A lengthy absence from the tour meant his world ranking plunged, but he has climbed back to world No 15 after runs last year to the last eight at Roland Garros and the US Open.

Beating Medvedev brought up another milestone in Wawrinka’s illustrious career — it was his 300th Tour-level win.

It was classic Wawrinka in the first set, with the 34-year-old playing some of his best tennis in a long time.

He broke to go 3-1 in front and then again to take the set in 32 minutes of precision and power, with the Russian struggling to match him around the court.

But Medvedev came roaring back to break and take a 3-1 lead in the second set as Wawrinka lost his range, with the Russian breaking again to take the set in emphatic fashion.

The 23-year-old built on his advantage early in the third set, with his serve making life hard for Wawrinka, who struggled to create chances and had trouble applying the finishing touch at the net.

In contrast, Medvedev was hitting winners and broke for 4-3 before sealing the set.

They traded blows in a tight fourth set, desperately arm-wrestling for the edge with a tie-breaker needed and Wawrinka showing his experience to prevail and send it to a deciding set, where the writing was on the wall.

Medvedev had played five career five-setters and lost them all, while veteran Wawrinka had 50 under his belt and a 28-22 record.

He turned the screws, breaking the Russian’s opening service game then staving off three break points to go 3-1 in front, with no way back for the fourth seed.

Meanwhile, Dominic Thiem’s mum is only three matches away from another visit to the tattoo parlour after she pledged to get more ink every time he wins a tournament.

The Austrian fifth seed swept into the Open quarter-finals for the first time after a straight-sets demolition job on Frenchman Gael Monfils on Monday at Rod Laver Arena.

Thiem had never before gone beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park, but rolled past world No 10 Monfils 6-2 6-4 6-4.

Thiem, 26, confirmed to on-court interviewer Jim Courier that his mother Karin had started a new tradition last year in getting a tattoo for each tournament he won.

After making the vow, Thiem had a career-best campaign, winning five titles, with an eagle feather for his victory in Indian Wells and a panda for saluting in Beijing among the tattoo haul.

With his mother watching on in the stands, Thiem was asked what kind of tattoo she would get if he won the Open, he replied: “For sure, a kangaroo.”

The victory stretched Thiem’s all-time dominance over Monfils to 6-0. Thiem’s charge comes after splitting with his coach Thomas Muster after just two weeks together.

Courier said during the match that there was “tension” between the pair. However, Thiem said there was no bad blood with the former French Open champion but the relationship just didn’t work out.“Nothing bad happened there — we already said before we started the relationship that if it doesn’t work out, we’re going stop it, and that was the case.’’

AGENCIES