Australian Open 2024 results: Daniil Medvedev fights back to win in 03:40am finish

Medvedev was a runner-up at the Australian Open in 2021 and 2022

Two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev beat Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori at the Australian Open in a second-round match that finished at 03:40 local time.

Having begun at 23:15, the third seed came from two sets down to beat the world number 53 3-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-1) 6-0 in four hours and 23 minutes.

It ended in front of a sparse crowd on a cold Rod Laver Arena with Medvedev capitalising as his opponent tired.

"Honestly guys, I would not be here," the Russian told the crowd afterwards.

"Thanks for staying. You are strong."

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The match was preceded by a two-hour 46-minute epic between Anna Blinkova and Elena Rybakina, which included a 31-minute deciding-set tie-break.

That match had been delayed by wins for Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz which both lasted more than three hours.

Medvedev, who will play Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime next, said he hoped to get to sleep by 06:30 but admitted the waiting to play was "very tough".

"The toughest was the [Blinkova-Rybakina] tie-break," he said.

"With tennis you never know when have to eat, when to warm-up. Here, it was too early. When I went on court I was exhausted already.

"He was better prepared in the beginning but I am happy I managed to stay tough."

Medvedev turns it around

The Australian Open started a day earlier on Sunday this year in a bid to prevent late finishes, such as Andy Murray's 04:00 finish against Thanasi Kokkinakis last year.

Medvedev began with an error-strewn and distracted two sets, during which he constantly argued with his support team in the coaching box.

Ruusuvuori, bidding to reach a Grand Slam third round for the first time, was superb but the match started to turn when a double fault gave Medvedev a break of serve early in the third set.

The 2021 US Open champion let a 4-2 lead slip in the fourth set and smashed his racquet when Ruusuvuori moved 5-4 ahead, only to breeze through the resulting tie-break.

Ruusuvuori then received treatment on his shoulder early in the fifth and Medvedev dominated in taking the decider in only 30 minutes.

Earlier, eighth seed Holger Rune was also knocked out by 21-year-old French wildcard Arthur Cazaux.

The Dane lost 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 against Cazaux, while sixth seed Alexander Zverev and 11th seed Casper Ruud needed five sets to win, as did Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Second seed Carlos Alcaraz was pushed in four sets by Italy's Lorenzo Sonego but won 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-3).

Zverev and Ruud survive scares

Olympic champion Zverev, 26, beat qualifier Lukas Klein 7-5 3-6 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-7) in four hours and 30 minutes.

It was only the second match in a Grand Slam main draw for the world number 163 and the German said Slovakia's Klein "probably deserved to win more than me".

Ruud beat Australian Max Purcell 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (10-7) in three hours and 50 minutes to disappoint vocal home support.

Both Zverev and Ruud won tense tie-breaks in the deciding set, with the German avoiding a second successive second-round exit in Melbourne.

"I would have much rather won in an hour and a half but what can I do?" he said.

"He played incredible, was hitting every ball as hard as he could from both sides. I didn't really know what to do a lot of the time.

"To be honest, he probably deserved to win more than me."

Zverev will play American world number 91 Alex Michelsen in the next round while Ruud will play British number one Norrie.

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"It was an incredible match and it could have gone both ways," Ruud said.

"Max has taken his tennis to a new level and I wish him the best of success in the year to come.

"He plays fast and is one of the most unorthodox players these days. It's tough. He made it hard and luckily in the end it went in my favour."

Alcaraz was tested by blustery conditions and a tricky opponent in Sonego but he was able to keep the world number 46 at bay in the fourth set tie-break to seal victory in three hours and 25 minutes.

It is just the second time Alcaraz, a two-time major winner, has reached the third round in Melbourne, having missed last year's tournament through injury.

"I'm really happy with my performance today," said the Spaniard, who will next face Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng.

"I think both of us played at a really high level, with high intensity. The match was a little bit tricky with the wind and the sun.

"It was tough to play your best but we tried to stay there all the time, even if I lost the second set."

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