The two have known each other for a very long time, as they grew through the junior categories together, and since Zverev has a Russian background and had a girlfriend who accused him of domestic violence but was also a very good friend with Medvedev's wife.
There are many points where the stories of Zverev and Medvedev meet, and the two have met also many times in ATP Tour-level matches, as they played already their 19th match in Melbourne Park on Friday.
But this time around, the match was even more heated than before, even though it didn't show directly on the court. Previously, the two clashed after their meeting in Monte-Carlo, as the German called his opponent "unfair".
Medvedev immediately responded to those comments, but soon after that, it seemed that all was fine between the two. However, that was only until the latest series of Netflix's BreakPoint dropped.
Everyone in the tennis world was aware of the comment, and so was Medvedev, for whom the semi-final match at the Rod Laver Arena was even more important because of that.
He was losing 0-2 after the first two set, but erased the deficit to beat Zverev in five sets and reach the Australian Open final. After the match, Medvedev turned to his box, and mouthed the word "Karma" three times, before shaking his opponent's hand.
One of the players who got enraged by the way that Netflix portrayed Medvedev was also his fellow compatriot Daria Kasatkina. She was upset as her friend wasn't portrayed nicely, but after his win in Melbourne, she took to social media to voice her opinion.
"I feel like everyone is thinking the same right now."
Will it be the year of the 🐙 or the 🦊?!
@DaniilMedwed comes from two sets down to defeat Sascha Zverev! He'll face Jannik Sinner to crown a first-time #AusOpen champion!
The comeback king. The marathon man. The #AO2024 finalist.
@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis