DANIIL Medvedev made tough work of his second round matchup at the Australian open, but clawed back from two sets down to defeat Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0 overnight. The match was completed at 3:40am local time, after four hours and 23 minutes of play.

A two-time runner up at Melbourne Park, Medvedev’s 2024 tournament flashed before him at 4-5 down in the fourth set. The Russian rallied to take the set in a tiebreak (7-1) before sweeping the fifth as world number 53, Ruusuvuori began to be hampered by a shoulder injury.

“This one if for sure going to stay in my memory,” Medvedev said in his post-match interview on court. “Honestly guys, I would not be here. Thanks for staying… I’m happy that I managed to stay tough, even if it was very tough.”

Fans got their money’s worth yesterday with six of the 16 men’s ties going all the way, juxtaposed by just one straight sets victory. Medvedev was among a quartet of top seeds to advance in five sets, while eighth seed Holger Rune crashed out to French wildcard Arthur Cazaux.

Alexander Zverev (6) and Hubert Hurkacz (9) were pushed by qualifiers Lukas Klein and Jakub Mensik respectively, while Casper Ruud had a hard time of it against Australia’s Max Purcell. The trio survived though, as four other seeds were eliminated on day five.

Purcell was one of two local hopes in action yesterday. Thanasi Kokkinakis was the other, but proved no match for 13th-ranked Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov over four sets. The result leaves Alex de Minaur as the last home grown hope standing in the men’s draw, along with Storm Hunter in the women’s bracket.

RESULTS:

2024 Australian Open, Day 5

C. Alcaraz (2) def. L. Sonego 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6
D. Medvedev (2) def. E. Ruusuvuori 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 6-0
C. Ruud (11) def. M. Purcell [AUS] 6-3, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
A. Cazaux (WC) def. H. Rune (8) 7-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
A. Zverev (6) def. L. Klein (Q) 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6
G. Dimitrov (13) def. T. Kokkinakis [AUS] 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
T. Paul (14) def. J. Draper 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
H. Hurkacz (9) def. J. Mensik (Q) 6-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3
C. Norrie (19) def. G. Zeppieri (Q) 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
A. Michelsen def. J. Lehecka (32) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
N. Borges def. A. Davidovich Fokina (23) 7-6, 6-3, 6-3
F. Auger-Aliassime (27) def. H. Grenier (Q) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
T. Griekspoor (28) def. A. Fils 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4
M. Kecmanovic def. J. Stuff (24) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6
U. Humbert (21) def. Z. Zhang 6-2, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6
J. Shang (WC) def. S. Nagal (Q) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4