Daniil Medvedev rallies from two sets down to beat Fabian Marozsan and set up Learner Tien rematch
The No 11 seed Daniil Medvedev overcame a 0-2 set deficit to defeat Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3, securing a fourth-round encounter with the man who stunned him 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-7(8), 1-6, 7-6(7) in Melbourne last year, Learner Tien.
Daniil Medvedev, Australian open 2026 | © Zuma / Psewz
The 29-year-old Daniil Medvedev produced a display of grit on Margaret Court Arena to reach the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2024. Despite writing “Not 5 sets” on the camera lens after his previous victory, the world No 12 was pushed to the a hard struggle by the world No 47 Fabian Marozsan (6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, 6-3).
The Hungarian, 26, played near-perfect tennis for two sets, utilizing heavy forehands and drop shots to leave the Russian searching for answers. However, Medvedev remained steady as the match crossed the three-hour mark, taking a tight third set before the physical momentum shifted entirely in his direction.
Medvedev overcomes two-set deficit
The turning point arrived early in the fourth set as Fabian Marozsan began to show significant signs of exhaustion. The high-intensity baseline exchanges of the first two hours appeared to take their toll on the Hungarian, who struggled to maintain his service speed and movement.
Medvedev capitalized immediately, racing through a 19-minute fourth set without dropping a game as Marozsan was visibly tired from the start of set 4. By the time the match reached the deciding set, the 11th seed was in full control of the physical narrative, eventually sealing his 8th consecutive victory of the 2026 season.
Reflecting on the physical demands of the comeback, Medvedev noted his reliance on specific recovery measures. “I drank a little pickle juice. So I don’t get a cramp,” he shared in his on-court interview. “It was a very hard match. Unlike the Grand Slam matches last year, which I lost almost all of, I turned it around this time. I wasn’t bad in the first two sets. So I stayed calm.” The win serves as a major psychological boost for the Russian, who had struggled to close out five-set matches throughout the previous season.
A showdown with Learner Tien
The victory sets the stage for one of the most anticipated rematches of the 2026 Australian Open. Daniil Medvedev will now face the No 25 seed Learner Tien, the 20-year-old American who authored the most shocking upset of the 2025 tournament by defeating Medvedev in a five-set second-round thriller. Tien, who reached the last 16 earlier on Friday with a straight-sets win over Nuno Borges, has continued to impress with a high tennis IQ and improved fitness.
For Medvedev, the clash represents a chance to avenge his most painful loss of last year and continue his climb back toward the top 10. Having already won the Brisbane title this month, the Russian is the form player of the draw alongside Jannik Sinner, but he will need to maintain his service efficiency against Tien’s elite returning. As the second week approaches, the “five-set king” has proven once again that he is rarely out of a contest, even when facing a two-set deficit on the stadium courts of Melbourne. out Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, the No 24 seed (6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4) in the previous rounds.
