WATCH: Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev’s epic 51-shot rally depicting Russian’s octopus-like defense in the Australian Open semifinals

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev played an epic 51-shot rally during their clash at the 2024 Australia Open semifinals.

WATCH: Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev’s epic 51-shot rally depicting Russian’s octopus-like defense in the Australian Open semifinals

Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev (Images via X)

Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev played an epic 51-shot rally when they clashed at the 2024 Australian Open semifinals on Friday (January 26) at the Rod Laver Arena.

This happened in the first set. Zverev was 6-5 and served for the game. Both of them were at 40-40 when they played that 51-shot rally.

YouTube video

Medvedev made Zverev toil hard to take advantage but eventually clinched the point by hitting around the net, which Medvedev failed to return. Medvedev garnered praise for his incredible defense after this rally, the video of which has gone viral.

FS Video

Watch the video here:

But Medvedev failed to secure the win in the first set, losing with a score of 5-7. The Russian then lost the second set as well, 6-3. But then he went on to win the next three sets to reach the final.

What happened when Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev last faced each other?

This was the first time Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev faced each other at a Grand Slam semi final. Even though they locked horns with each other 18 times before the Australian Open semifinals clash, they never met at Grand Slam level.

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev (Images via X)

Before this match, Medvedev used to lead the head-to-head 11-7. In their last clash at the Nitto ATP Finals, where they met at the group stage, Medvedev won in straight sets 7-6(9-7), 6-4.

Their rivalry was well documented in Netflix’s Break Point. Zverev once called Medvedev “one of the most unfair players in the world” in 2023 after their clash at the Monte Carlo Masters.

I take fair play and sportsmanship very seriously. He takes a toilet break when it is not possible anymore. I am extremely disappointed in him as an athlete.
Zverev accused Medvedev of sportsmanship

Medvedev hit back at him by telling him to look at himself in the mirror. He also went on to add that both of them don’t share a great bond and are not friends.

When he says someone is not fair play, you’re like: ‘Okay, great. Look at yourself in the mirror. Sascha, when he loses, we can find maybe 25 interviews of him where he does say some strange things.
Medvedev said after the Monte Carlos Masters match

Notably, Medvedev has won one Grand Slam title at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final. On the other hand, Zverev has not yet tasted success at the Grand Slam level.

He reached the 2020 US Open final but got thumped by Dominic Thiem. But he won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by beating Kharen Khachanov in the final.

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