In Melbourne, on January 21, Daniil Medvedev had to exert significant effort to secure his spot in the third round of the Australian Open, battling through to a 6-7(9), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win against France’s Quentin Halys on Wednesday at John Cain Arena.

This victory marked Medvedev’s continued strong performance in the 2026 season, bringing his unbeaten streak to seven matches, matching his best start ever, previously set during his remarkable 2021 season.

Currently ranked World No. 11, Medvedev found himself in a familiar scenario during the early stages of a major tournament. Although he commenced the season with a series of straightforward victories during his title run in Brisbane, smooth progress in Grand Slams has proven more challenging.

Since Wimbledon 2023, the Russian has not advanced past the first two rounds of a major without dropping a set, a trend that continued after he lost a thrilling 20-point tiebreak in the first set against Halys. However, Medvedev regained his composure, securing early breaks in both the second and third sets to take command of the match.

Upon concluding the match in four sets, Medvedev cheekily signed the camera lens with the phrase 'Not 5 sets,' a playful reference to his history of lengthy matches at Melbourne Park.

Under the guidance of new coaches Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke, the 2021 Australian Open finalist appears rejuvenated, showcasing the endurance and defensive tenacity that characterized his most successful campaign.

That season saw him reach the final in Melbourne, achieve his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, and lead Russia to victories at the ATP Cup and Davis Cup, ending the year with a remarkable 63 wins.

This win propels Medvedev into the round of 32 at a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2024 US Open, marking a turnaround from a challenging phase at major tournaments. His next opponent will be Hungary’s Fábián Marozsán, who triumphed over Kamil Majchrzak.

In addition, Andrey Rublev also secured his place in the third round, defeating Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria with scores of 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the day’s opening match on Margaret Court Arena. The 13th seed faced some challenges from World No. 151 Faria, who managed to take the third set, but Rublev’s experience and power were crucial in the end.

After appearing poised for a straight-sets victory, the World No. 15 regained his focus in the fourth set, maintaining his serve under pressure and clinching a pivotal break at 6-5 to avert a deciding set. This victory marked Rublev’s seventh consecutive advancement to the round of 32 at the Australian Open, improving his early-season record to 4-1, highlighting a solid start to his 2026 campaign.