MELBOURNE — The exasperated cry of "Not again!" echoed around Rod Laver Arena, but this time it wasn't directed at a line judge or a disruptive fan. It was Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 3, chastising himself as he stared down the barrel of a stunning second-round exit at the 2024 Australian Open. Yet, in a display of resilience that has become his trademark, Medvedev lived up to his billing as a five-set expert, battling back from a two-set deficit to defeat Hungary's dangerous Fabian Marozsan 6-7(3), 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in a grueling three-hour and 59-minute marathon.
A Tactical Puzzle Unravels
For the first two sets, the match unfolded as a nightmare scenario for Medvedev. Marozsan, the 24-year-old with a reputation for giant-killing after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in Rome last year, was executing a near-perfect game plan. He absorbed Medvedev's deep, flat groundstrokes and countered with breathtaking angles, delicate drop shots, and blistering backhand winners. Medvedev, known for his strategic prowess, found himself outmaneuvered. "He was playing unbelievable," Medvedev admitted in his on-court interview. "Two sets to love down, I was like, 'I need to change something, but I don't know what.'"
The statistics painted a bleak picture for the Russian. Marozsan's aggressive, first-strike tennis neutralized Medvedev's defensive genius. The Hungarian's ability to take the ball early and redirect it with pace left Medvedev scrambling, often ending points sprawled on the blue hard court. The two tie-breaks were controlled by Marozsan, whose fearless shot-making under pressure left the third seed shaking his head in frustration.
The Turnaround: Patience and Persistence
The pivotal shift came not with a sudden surge of winners, but with a recalibration of Medvedev's famous patience. Recognizing he couldn't out-hit Marozsan in a shootout, Medvedev began to extend the rallies, using his superior physical conditioning to drag the Hungarian into a war of attrition. He started serving with more precision and began to inch closer to the baseline, taking time away from Marozsan just as the Hungarian had done to him.
"In the third set, I started to serve better, to play a bit faster, a bit stronger," Medvedev explained. The momentum swung violently. Medvedev raced through the third set 6-1 as Marozsan's error count began to rise. The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with Medvedev's relentless consistency breaking down Marozsan's flashy game. The Hungarian, who had looked so composed, began to show signs of physical and mental fatigue, his magical touch deserting him at the worst possible moment.
Keys to the Comeback
Medvedev's transformation from frustrated contender to dominant force was built on several critical adjustments:
- Improved First Serve Percentage: He significantly increased his first serves in play, giving Marozsan fewer looks at his vulnerable second delivery.
- Court Positioning: By stepping into the court, he cut off Marozsan's angles and applied constant pressure.
- Mental Fortitude: Medvedev's experience in five-set battles (improving his record to 10-7 when down two sets) proved invaluable, while Marozsan navigated uncharted territory.
Closing Out the Marathon
The fifth set was a test of nerve. With the match leveled, the question was whether Marozsan could rediscover his early magic or if Medvedev's grinding pressure would prevail. An early break for Medvedev settled the affair. Serving at 3-4, Marozsan finally buckled, netting a forehand to hand Medvedev the decisive advantage. The Russian served out the match to love, sealing victory with a deep return that forced one last error from his exhausted opponent. Medvedev celebrated not with a roar, but with a look of profound relief, wiping his brow as he absorbed the applause.
In his post-match press conference, Medvedev reflected on the mental battle, revealing the thought process behind his mid-match outburst. "I said, 'Not again!' because I was remembering last year against Sebastian Korda, I was also two sets down and a break down... I managed to win that one. So I was like, 'Okay, I’m going to try to do it again.' But when you're in the moment, it's not easy."
For Marozsan, the defeat was a crushing blow but also a demonstration of his immense talent on the biggest stage. "I had a great two sets. I was playing amazing tennis," he said. "But he's a great fighter. He didn't give me any free points in the last three sets. He was just better today in the end."
Looking Ahead: The Road Gets Tougher
The victory propels Medvedev into the fourth round, where he will face another formidable challenge. His path through the draw remains arduous, a testament to the depth of the men's field. Each match is a potential landmine, requiring the full arsenal of his tactical mind and physical endurance.
This comeback, however, serves as a stark warning to the rest of the field. Daniil Medvedev may get frustrated, he may talk to himself, and he may find himself on the brink. But as Fabian Marozsan and others have learned, extinguishing his competitive fire is a different task altogether. He thrives in the deep waters of a fifth set, and in Melbourne, a tournament where he has been a finalist twice, he has once again proven that writing him off is a perilous mistake. The title of 'five-set expert' is not just a nickname; it's a testament to a mindset that turns desperation into victory, one grueling rally at a time.