Medvedev Turns the Tide in Brisbane Quarterfinal

Daniil Medvedev stepped onto Pat Rafter Arena under the Queensland sun, the top seed carrying the buzz of a strong 2025 finish into the Brisbane International. Facing lucky loser Kamil Majchrzak, he started tentatively, his usual elastic defense yielding to the Pole’s flat returns in a first set that dragged into a tiebreak. Medvedev’s serve faltered just enough for Majchrzak to edge it 7-6(4), but the Russian’s eyes sharpened as he sensed the shift needed to stay on track for his 22nd tour-level title.

From the second set, Medvedev pushed forward, stepping inside the baseline to unleash inside-out forehands that pulled Majchrzak off the court. He broke with a heavy topspin lob that the underdog couldn’t retrieve, taking the frame 6-3 and flipping the momentum. In the decider, his first serve became a wall, conceding only five points as he closed out 6-2 with crosscourt backhands that hugged the lines.

“I think it was a high-quality match. I would honestly say it was a Top 10 match in terms of shotmaking,” said Medvedev, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I’m happy with myself… I managed to stay composed and hit some great shots to win the match.”

“I’m super happy with myself” @DaniilMedwed comes back from a set down to defeat Majchrzak in Brisbane @BrisbaneTennis | #BrisbaneInternational pic.twitter.com/4hLEdEv5eK
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 9, 2026

Slow start echoes inner battles

The opening set’s slip highlighted Medvedev’s early-season vulnerabilities on these medium-paced hard courts, where the ball skids low and demands precision. Majchrzak, unburdened by ranking pressure, fired crosscourt winners that forced Medvedev into underspin slices, buying time but stalling attacks. Yet, between points, the top seed reset his focus, drawing on mental tools refined through 2025’s ups and downs to avoid a deeper hole.

This composure carried into the third, where one–two patterns off the serve rushed Majchrzak’s backhand, creating openings for down-the-line passes. The crowd’s murmurs turned to cheers as Medvedev’s energy built, his 52nd hard-court semifinal surpassing Gael Monfils for second among active players behind Novak Djokovic’s 127. Chasing the trophy that escaped him in his 2019 Brisbane final, he channeled that history into purposeful play.

Aggression unlocks the decider

Medvedev’s tactical pivot—mixing inside-in forehands with net rushes—overwhelmed Majchrzak’s steady baseline game, turning defense into decisive points. On a surface that rewards depth, his topspin gripped the court, pinning the Pole deep and opening angles for volleys. The arena pulsed with the rhythm of his renewed attack, a stark contrast to the tentative exchanges that defined the opener.

Next faces Alex Michelsen, who outlasted Sebastian Korda 6-3, 7-6(7) in a 1-hour, 39-minute grind marked by the American’s 37 unforced errors. Michelsen saved his lone break point with rock-solid serving, notching his 50th hard-court win and testing Medvedev’s adjustments against rising power. In the bottom half, Aleksandar Kovacevic endured Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s 24 aces to win 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, setting an all-American semifinal with Brandon Nakashima, who dispatched Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-3 for his 10th ATP semi.

“I’m super happy with the way I played. I knew it was going to be a very tough match, he had a couple of great wins here already,” Nakashima said of Collignon, who upset two-time Brisbane champion Grigor Dimitrov in the second round. “I knew I had to bring my best game, and I’m happy I did it in the end.”

Semifinal spotlights mental edge

Medvedev’s win on January 9, 2026, blends racket skill with the quiet resolve that defines his best runs, especially as the Australian Open approaches. Against Michelsen’s flat hitting, he’ll need to sustain this proactive fire without drifting back to passivity. The draw’s American depth adds intrigue, but Medvedev’s evolution suggests he’s primed to navigate it, forging a path toward the title on these familiar courts.