Daniil Medvedev has explained why he lied to Jim Courier after his fourth round victory over Nuno Borges. The result ensured Medvedev booked a showdown with Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals, which the two-time Australian Open champion ended up winning.

“It was funny because after [the interview with Courier], in the press conference they were also asking about the return and they were like, ‘when do you decide sometimes to go forward?’” Medvedev explained.

“In my mind, I knew that against Hubert, [who has] an amazing serve and volley, he’s probably the only one where the ball – even if I stay really far back – it continues to go up and never really goes down. So I’m like, ‘hmm, it doesn’t really work to stay there.’

“Talking to Jim, talking in the press conference after I was like, ‘I know next match I’m going to stay close, but I’m not going to tell it to you guys right now.’ [I’m] a little surprise here and there and I’m glad that it kind of worked.”