Adelaide Worldwide: Medvedev beats Khachanov to arrange potential Djokovic semifinal conflict

Daniil Medvedev is into the semifinals of the Adelaide Worldwide and a potential matchup with top-seeded Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic was scheduled to play afterward Friday in his quarterfinal towards Denis Shapovalov.

The runner-up final 12 months to Rafael Nadal within the Australian Open, Medvedev defeated fellow Russian Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3 on Friday. The mixed ATP-WTA occasion is a warmup for this 12 months’s Australian Open, the place Medvedev will once more be an element.

Djokovic didn’t play the Australian Open final 12 months after being barred from the nation as a result of he was not vaccinated towards COVID-19.

“It’s by no means simple to play your compatriot,” Medvedev stated. “I’m glad that I managed to actually elevate my degree, particularly ultimately of each units, and actually glad to be by to the semis.”

Medvedev is the 2021 U.S. Open champion, however has misplaced twice within the finals in Australia — and in 2021 it was towards Djokovic.

“For positive I performed properly final 12 months and I’m enjoying properly proper now,” Medvedev stated, “To be sincere, that’s all that issues. With the intention to win a slam, or be within the remaining, it’s a must to be at your greatest for seven matches.”

“I managed to do it as soon as and I used to be actually shut final 12 months,” he added. “And that’s what I’m going to attempt to do once more in just a few weeks in Melbourne.”

In different quarterfinals on Friday, American Sebastian Korda defeated sixth-seeded Jannik Sinner 7-5, 6-1, and Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan beat Alexei Popyrin of Australia. Korda will face Nishioka within the semifinals.