Australian Open: Daniil Medvedev eliminated in the 3rd round and leaves the ATP Top 10

So there are (already) only two left… Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are the only former Grand Slam winners still competing in the Australian Open, where the headliners are dropping like flies. The finalist of the last two years, Daniil Medvedev, stopped in the third round against the amazing Sebastian Korda (7-6, 6-3, 7-6).

The 22-year-old American, ranked 31st in the world and a recent finalist at the Adelaide tournament, had one of the most successful matches of his career, dominating the seventh seed, who went through ups and downs throughout the year. From that now historic moment when he led 6-2, 7-6, 3-2 and 0-40 on Nadal’s serve in the Melbourne final before being knocked down by the returning Spaniard. Still No. 1 in the world last August, the Russian will even leave the top 10 after the tournament …

“This is by far one of the best matches I’ve played,” sums up Korda, whose father Piotr won the Australian Open in 1998. I always knew that I could become a good tennis player. Medvedev makes no secrets. The most French of the Moscow players is simply not right in the head.

“I didn’t play well either. I was just below what it took to win, he notes. It’s tricky because it has to be about confidence, the right frame of mind, and I was out tonight (Editor’s note: Friday). He handled long exchanges better, he won more points than me, he was just stronger than me (…) I tried to come back, really, in every set, to fight, to exist, but it was not enough. . »

However, Medvedev, who promised to tickle the peaks, seems to be aging against the new wave with long teeth embodied by Alcaraz (missing due to injury), Rune or Sinner. “That’s what’s difficult about tennis today is that in the top 30, everyone can beat everyone. Of course, the top ten players are always more stable, and that’s why my rating is now falling, but anyone can win. Even Novak (Editor’s note: Djokovic) sometimes he can lose, less than others, but he can. »

We don’t know the real severity of the Serb’s left hip injury as he aims for the 22nd Grand Slam in Australia and the World No. 1 crown. But besides his legs, he can still rub his hands. Every day, even before the second week, contenders for the title disappear. The half of the nine-time winner, who remains in 36 straight games won on Australian soil and will play against Dimitrov on Saturday, is pretty much depopulated.

Remain Rublev (No. 5) and Runa (No. 9) in the role of a scarecrow. The other half, which Medvedev has just left, will feature an unprecedented finalist with a strike of Tsitsipas (#3)-Sinner (#15) from 8th. And Nishioka, Khachanov, Gurkach or Korda will be in the semi-finals next Friday…