MELBOURNE – Russian tennis ace Daniil Medvedev powered into the third round of the Australian Open after a gritty comeback win over France’s Quentin Halys. On John Cain Arena, the world No. 11 triumphed 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in a match that tested his resilience.
Dropping the opening set in a marathon 20-point tiebreak, Medvedev flipped the script with clinical precision in the next three sets. This victory extends his unbeaten streak to seven matches in the 2026 season, matching his career-best start from 2021 – a year that saw him reach the Australian Open final and claim the US Open title.
Grand Slams have often started rocky for Medvedev, but he shattered that narrative here. Leveraging his experience, he dominated after the early setback, showcasing improved fitness under new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke.
Post-match, Medvedev playfully scrawled ‘No 5 sets’ on the camera, nodding to his reputation for epic Melbourne battles. Next up is Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, as Medvedev eyes a deep run.
In another thriller, Andrey Rublev joined him in the third round, outlasting Portugal’s qualifier Jaime Faria 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 on Margaret Court Arena. The 13th seed weathered a third-set fightback from the world No. 151 before sealing it with aggressive baseline play.
Rublev’s composure under pressure highlights Russia’s strong showing Down Under. Both players now gear up for tougher challenges, keeping Grand Slam hopes alive amid fierce competition.
