In a discussion with socialbites.ca, former world junior number two Anastasia Pivovarova highlighted a notable shift in the way Daniil Medvedev received serves during the Australian Open semifinal against Hubert Hurkacz.
The Russian player triumphed over the Polish opponent with a scoreline of 7:6 (7:4), 2:6, 6:3, 5:7, 6:4.
Pivovarova explained that a topic of lively debate among fans centered on Medvedev’s movement. Traditionally, he positioned himself quite deep behind the baseline, yet against Hurkacz he moved closer to the court. Although Medvedev did not publicly reveal this adjustment, it was clear to observers that he anticipated a tall, strong server from the Polish player, who generated pace and height on his serves. The tactic aimed to neutralize Hurkacz’s power and exploit Medvedev’s comfort in shorter rallies. This alteration in position was noted by many tennis followers watching the match.
Broadcast graphics showed Medvedev standing roughly two meters behind the baseline for Hurkacz’s first serves, then moving to the line for the Pole’s second deliveries.
During the initial rounds of the event, Medvedev tended to retreat further, averaging about six meters behind the baseline on his opponent’s first serve and around four meters on the second. The shift in the semifinal marked a deliberate change in how he managed the serve and return exchange, reflecting a flexible approach to adapting to an opponent’s serving profile and an emphasis on controlling the pace of the rally.
The adjustment in Medvedev’s stance contributed to the overall strategy that allowed him to prevail in a tightly contested five-set match. By occupying a more aggressive position at key moments, he could pressure Hurkacz on returns and force errors or shorter response opportunities. This change underscored Medvedev’s willingness to alter court positioning mid-tournament to optimize results against varied opponents, rather than sticking rigidly to a single setup.