TENNIS: Medvedev fights back from two sets down to beat Marozsan at Australian Open

MELBOURNE — Daniil Medvedev produced another dramatic comeback at the Australian Open on Friday, rallying from two sets down to defeat Fabian Marozsan 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3. The win sets up a last-16 clash against American Learner Tien, the young player who eliminated Medvedev in the second round last year.

Medvedev has struggled at Grand Slams since his loss to Tien in Melbourne in 2025, exiting in the first round in three straight majors. He now has a chance for revenge against the American, who beat him twice in three meetings last year.

Marozsan looked in control early, taking the first two sets and putting Medvedev on the brink of another early exit. But the former world number one showed his fighting spirit, mounting a strong comeback in a match that lasted three hours and 43 minutes.

After the win, Medvedev wrote “5 sets again” on the camera, celebrating another memorable five-set victory at Melbourne Park.

“He played great and I was like, ‘Look, you know what? If I lose, I lose, but I’m just going to try, I’m just going to fight,’” Medvedev said while eating a protein bar. “I do this all the time. I tried to go for it a bit more, because he was moving me all around, so it managed to work.”

Early Struggles and Turning Point

Both players struggled with consistency in the first set. Medvedev hit several crucial aces, but his unforced errors and double faults allowed Marozsan to stay in control. Marozsan’s calm shot selection helped him win the first set in a tiebreak.

“I was not calm after the first set because I was mad at myself for not doing a bit better,” Medvedev admitted. “That cost me a bit. It felt really tough to get back into the second set.”

Marozsan capitalized on Medvedev’s frustration, breaking twice to lead 4-1 in the second set. The Hungarian player also produced one of the best points of the match, executing a reaction volley that spun back into his own court.

Medvedev Takes Over

Medvedev finally found his rhythm in the third set. He took advantage of Marozsan’s nervous serving, breaking back and winning the set 7-5.

The Russian then dominated the fourth set, winning 6-0 in just 19 minutes. His deep returns and relentless pressure forced Marozsan into rushed shots and errors.

Medvedev extended his winning streak to nine games and remained strong in the final set. Although Marozsan fought back early, Medvedev regained control and sealed the match.

A Unique Trick to Avoid Cramping

Medvedev revealed that he used pickle juice to prevent cramps during the match.

“It happens to me sometimes when you serve for the match, you get a bit tight, a small cramp here and there,” Medvedev said. “It’s better to drink some pickle juice and not cramp. So I didn’t cramp and I served good.”

Medvedev now advances to face Tien in what promises to be another intense matchup. -Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters