Daniil Medvedev is out of the Australian Open after suffering a 7-6(7) 6-3 7-6(4) defeat to Sebastian Korda.
Last year’s finalist was favourite to make the final again this year but was outclassed by the in-form American.
Korda reached the final in Adelaide the week before Melbourne and showed his talent once again to make the second week at the Australian Open.
The American will now face tenth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the last 16 after the Pole defeated Denis Shapovalov in five sets.
There were signs from the first ball that Korda came to play as he played an insane opening return game.
Medvedev couldn’t close out his opening service game as Korda broke on his fourth attempt to take a 1-0 lead.
Korda would continue to apply the pressure on the Russian as he took a double break lead with some insane tennis.
However the former US Open champion came back into with some world class tennis as he broke twice to level the set at 4-4.
After a break of serve each, the opening set would be decided in a dramatic tiebreak.
Despite Medvedev’s best efforts it was Korda who would edge the tiebreak as he took it 9-7 and claimed the opening set in an exhausting 90 minute set.
In the second set Korda was clinical as he took the only break point of the set to take a 2-0 lead.
The American’s serving was another level as not even Medvedev could neutralise Korda’s accurate serving and forehand combinations.
A two set lead was established and a break to love in the opening game of the third set saw a comfortable victory on the cards.
However Medvedev kept fighting and battled his way back into the set, breaking in the eighth game with some stunning baseline hitting.
In the end though Korda dominated the tiebreak 7-4 to secure one of the biggest victories of his career.
The American will now look to make his first Grand Slam quarter-final when he takes on Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round on Sunday.
