SHOCK DJOK
Medvedev insists ALL the pressure is on Novak in Aussie final
DANIIL MEDVEDEV says all the pressure will be on Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final tomorrow.
The Russian silenced a raucous pro-Greek Melbourne crowd to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-2 7-5 in yesterday’s second semi-final.
But to win his first Grand Slam, the world No.4 now faces the Olympian task of ending the reign of the eighttime champion Djokovic at his favourite Major.
Bookies cannot pick a winner with the Muscovite on an incredible 20-match winning run which has seen him beat every other member of the top 10 since November, apart from the injured Roger Federer.
He has won against the World No.1 in three of their last four matches.
But in a build-up like before a heavyweight boxing fight, Medvedev started the pre-match mind games even before he had left the Rod Laver Arena after his win over Tsitsipas (right).
The 2019 US Open runner-up, who revels in the role of pantomime villain, said: “I think he’s the favourite.
“I like that I don’t have a lot of pressure because he has never lost in eight times he was here in the final. So it is him who has all the pressure, getting to the record of Roger and Rafa in the Grand Slams.
“I just hope I am going to get out there and show my best tennis. As we see, I can win against some big names if I play good. That is the main part. For sure he has more experience but more things to lose.” Djokovic is seeking an 18th Grand Slam singles title to close on the male record of 20 held by Federer and Rafa
Nadal. He called the in-form Medvedev the “man to beat” before the semi-finals.
And in an Eurosport interview, Djokovic said: “The pressure is always there, it’s part of what we do.
“There has been a lot of talk about the new generations coming and taking over from the three of us but realistically that isn’t happening. I’m not going to stand here and hand it over to them.”
Medvedev responded: “I believe him. I don’t take these words for sure as something negative. I’m quite motivated without those words.”
US Open champion Naomi Osaka will seek to win her fourth Grand Slam title against American No.22 seed Jennifer Brady in the women’s final today.
The Japanese star, who is on a 20-match winning streak, said: “I have this mentality that people don’t remember the runners-up. You might, but the winner’s name is the one that’s engraved.”