Auger-Aliassime squanders 2-set lead, loses to Medvedev in marathon match

It was as heartbreaking of a loss as you can get for Félix Auger-Aliassime, but the young Canadian said he’ll be leaving the Australian Open with his head held high.

After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in sets, Auger-Aliassime was unable to put the second-ranked Daniil Medvedev away during the pair’s quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday night.

Medvedev even survived a match point as he crawled back from the 2-0 hole and beat Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5, 6-4 in a four hour, 42-minute marathon to advance to the semis.

“At the end of the day, I can't regret the effort that I put in, and the chances I gave myself,” Auger-Aliassime said post match.

"Of course I would have loved to win. I love to win every time. It sucks to lose in the end, but that's life. I just need to accept it."

"I'm gonna leave Australia with my head held high"

All about that mindset, @felixtennis 💯#AusOpen • #AO2022• #AOTennis pic.twitter.com/ed2EP3jvQf

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2022

In the end, it was a seven-minute break to close the roof at Rod Laver Arena that seemed to change the course of this match.

It came in a third set tiebreak, after the 20-year-old Canadian had won the first two sets and was looking to close out the powerful Medvedev in straight sets.

Medvedev went off court briefly as Auger-Aliassime remained in his courtside chair, and when the two returned to action, the Russian rallied off five quick points to win the set.

In the fourth set, Auger-Aliassime had another chance to close things out when he earned a match point up 5-4 on Medvedev’s serve.

He was unable to convert, however, and Medvedev came storming back to win 7-5 and force a fifth and final set in Melbourne.

Félix Auger-Aliassime played some of his best tennis on Wednesday at the #AusOpen, but ultimately Daniil Medvedev proved too much, knocking the Canadian out in the quarter-finals.

Read more:https://t.co/llV0kDuWzG

— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) January 26, 2022

As the match crawled into the early hours of Thursday morning local time, Medvedev was able to earn one more crucial break en route to a 6-4 win in the final set, punching his ticket to the next round.

“It’s no surprise (Medvedev) is where he is now. He fights, tries to find solutions. He plays well when he needs to," explained Auger-Aliassime. "I think he was just a little bit more clutch than me — a little bit more solid at times."

Medvedev will now take on Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in one semi on Friday, while Rafael Nadal and Matteo Berettini will do battle in the other.

The winners will play for the Australian Open title on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena.