The China Mail - 'He must hate me': Medvedev renews Tien rivalry at Australian Open

Russia's Medvedev booked the Melbourne clash after battling through 6-7 (5/7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3 in 3hr 43min against Fabian Marozsan of Hungary.

The American 25th seed Tien kept up his end of the bargain by beating Nuno Borges of Portugal in straight sets.

The 20-year-old Tien and former number one Medvedev, 29, met three times last year, with the younger man winning twice.

That included a five-set marathon in the first round of the Australian Open, when Tien was a teenage qualifier.

"The thing is that I kind of don't like to play him, but he must hate to play me as well," said Medvedev, who anticipates "long, brutal rallies" in Sunday's showdown.

"I'm going to try to enjoy the game of tennis. Of course, try to do my best to maybe surprise him somewhere," added Medvedev, Australian Open runner-up in 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Medvedev booked his spot after coming back from 2-0 down for the fifth time in his career.

"It was a very tough match," said the 2021 US Open champion, who had a wretched major record last year.

The sometimes combustible Medvedev was pleased that he kept his volatile temper under control.

"I did manage to stay calm, even in the fifth set and managed to hit some good shots even in the fifth," he said.

Marozsan, ranked 47, was bidding to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

They exchanged breaks to start in a sign of things to come.

The two players went to a first-set tiebreak, where the Hungarian edged in front and held his nerve on his second set point.

Medvedev had vowed to be more "positive" on court after a 2025 where he lost in the first round at the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

His emotions began showing and he was on the ropes as he fell 4-1 down in the second set in the Margaret Court Arena sunshine.

Medvedev, who warmed up for Melbourne by winning the Brisbane title, reined in his emotions and got one break back, but Marozsan sealed the second set.

The unseeded 26-year-old appeared in control, but back roared Medvedev to turn the tide.

He won the third set and took that momentum into the fourth, the Russian racing through the set without dropping a game in just 19 minutes.

It sent a gripping match into a deciding set, where both struggled to hold serve, before Medvedev scraped through.

"Five sets again," he wrote afterwards on the on-court camera.

L.Kwan--ThChM