Holabird Sports!

Australian Open Day Ten (Video)

Federer Defeats Murray, Nadal Survives Dimitrov; Radswanka Shocks Azarenka

The Swiss Maestro is in semis for the 11th year in a row. Photo australianopen.com

January 22, 2014 ITS Michael Duranceau Melbourne - Agnieszka Radwanska upset defending champion Victoria Azarenka 6-1 5-7 6-0 on Wednesday to end the Belarusian's reign at the Australian Open.

 

Radswanka reached her first Melbourne semi-finals and now will face No.20 seed Dominika Cibulkova who defeated No.11 Simona Halep 6-3 6-0. 

 

The loss of Azarenka marks the first time in the Open Era that Australian Open will be without a defending champion after Novak Djokovic lost in Tuesday’s quarter-finals to Stanislas Wawrinka in five sets. Azarenka came into the match with an 18 match winning streak at the tournament and a 7-0 career head-to-head advantage against Radswanka. 

 

In men’s singles quarter-finals, No.1 seed Rafael Nadal won a grueling three and half hour epic battle on Wednesday night against Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 6-2 to move into the semi-finals for a blockbuster showdown with No.6 seed Roger Federer who knocked-off Andy Murray late Wednesday night with a convincing 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 victory. 

Nadal survives Dimitrov. Photo australianopen.com

Federer’s win marked the Swiss Maestro’s eleventh consecutive Australian Open semi-final appearance. 

 

After breezing through his first four matches without losing a set, Federer stormed to a two sets to love lead then served for the match on the third at 5-4.

 

But the reigning Wimbledon champion Scot, who did not reach a single break point chance against the Swiss in the first two sets, fought back gallantly to break back forcing a tiebreak. 

 

Murray, who laid off four months after a back operation, found himself down again 4-6 in the tiebreaker but managed to win four points in a row to extend the match to a fourth set. The 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer, however, kept his composure throughout the 58 minute set and finished with an ace avenging his loss to Murray in the semi-finals here last year.

Radswanka in her first Melbourne semi-finals. Photo by Renee McKay Getty Images

Clearly Federer, who is trying to recover from a disappointing injury-plagued 2013 season, is showing progress on his all-around game with new coach Stefan Edberg.

 

Federer dropped his serve only once and faced two break points in the three hour and 22 minute match. He attacked the net 66 times and won 49 times combining with 54 winners and 10 aces.

 

"I definitely think I am back physically," said the Basel native. "It was a great game on many levels today and not just physically but also just mentally. I really played some good tennis. I was very happy."

Australian Open Men’s Single Quarter-finals Wednesday Jan 22

1-Rafael Nadal beat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 7-6(3) 7-6(7) 6-2

6-Roger Federer beat 4-Andy Murray 6-3 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3

 

Australian Open Women’s Single Quarter-finals Wednesday Jan 22

20-Dominika Cibulkova beat 11-Simona Halep 6-3 6-0

5-Agnieszka Radswanka beat 2-Victoria Azarenka 6-1 5-7 6-0

 

Australian Open Women's Doubles Semifinals Wednesday Jan 22

1-Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci beat 4-Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik 6-1 6-4

3-E.Makarova/E.Vesnina beat 8-Raquel Kops-Jones/Abigail Spears 7-5 3-6 6-3

 

Australian Open Men’s Doubles Quarter-finals Wednesday Jan 22

14-Lukasz Kubot/Robert Lindstedt beat Max Mirnyi/Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 5-7 6-2

13-Michael Llodra/Nicolas Mahut beat 5-Leander Paes/Radek Stepanek 6-2 7-6(4)

Comments

Please enter the code
* Required fields
Please be aware that the contents of this form are not encrypted
There are no entries yet.