Djokovic, Murray reach last four
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2012, Thursday
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APPEARING uncomfortable for much of the match, defending champion Novak Djokovic beat David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-1 to complete a blockbuster semifinal lineup at the Australian Open.
He leads the top four men in tennis into the semis at Melbourne Park - Djokovic against No. 4 Andy Murray, who won his quarterfinal match over Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 earlier in the day.
Today, No. 2 Rafael Nadal plays No. 3 Roger Federer, the first time the two former top-ranked stars have met in a semifinal since the 2005 French Open.
It marks only the third time that the top four seeds have advanced to the semis at the Australian Open after 1988 and 2005. It was also the 14th time at all grand slams since the Open Era began in 1968, but it has happened in three of the last four - after the US Open and French Open last year.
Djokovic rubbed the back of his upper left leg on several occasions, looked on the verge of being physically sick in the second set and buried his head in towels several times during breaks. Late in the third set, a tired-looking Djokovic sat down on a linesman's chair during a line-call video challenge by Ferrer.
"I was lucky to get out of the second set, it was a big mental advantage to get two sets up," the Serb said.
An hour after the match, Djokovic further played down the possibility of any injuries, saying: "I don't have any physical issues."
"I feel very fit and I feel mentally, as well, very fresh," he told his post-match news conference. "It's just today I found it very difficult after a long time to breathe because I felt the whole day my nose was closed a little bit."
A Nadal-Federer semifinal has been rarely possible because the pair held the top two spots for most of the time between 2005 and 2010, meaning they could only meet in the finals after being placed in opposite sides of the draw.
Murray, for his part, is surprised to be not facing Nadal in the semifinals.
"It has been amazing, I pretty much drew to be in Nadal's half ... almost every slam," Murray said. "I can't remember the last time I wasn't in his half of the draw. It's been a long time."
On the women's side, former and reigning Wimbledon winners Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova - two of the three players who can take the No. 1 ranking - advanced to the semifinals.
Sharapova won 6-2, 6-3 against fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams in the previous round. Kvitova reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time with a 6-4, 6-4 win over unseeded Italian Sara Errani.
The other player who can reach No. 1 - third-seeded Victoria Azarenka - plays defending champion Kim Clijsters in the other semifinal today.
Sharapova must repeat her 2008 Australian title run if she is to take over the No. 1 spot from Caroline Wozniacki, who lost any chance of maintaining her top ranking when she lost in the quarterfinals to Clijsters. Kvitova only has to match or better Azarenka to take the top spot.
He leads the top four men in tennis into the semis at Melbourne Park - Djokovic against No. 4 Andy Murray, who won his quarterfinal match over Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 earlier in the day.
Today, No. 2 Rafael Nadal plays No. 3 Roger Federer, the first time the two former top-ranked stars have met in a semifinal since the 2005 French Open.
It marks only the third time that the top four seeds have advanced to the semis at the Australian Open after 1988 and 2005. It was also the 14th time at all grand slams since the Open Era began in 1968, but it has happened in three of the last four - after the US Open and French Open last year.
Djokovic rubbed the back of his upper left leg on several occasions, looked on the verge of being physically sick in the second set and buried his head in towels several times during breaks. Late in the third set, a tired-looking Djokovic sat down on a linesman's chair during a line-call video challenge by Ferrer.
"I was lucky to get out of the second set, it was a big mental advantage to get two sets up," the Serb said.
An hour after the match, Djokovic further played down the possibility of any injuries, saying: "I don't have any physical issues."
"I feel very fit and I feel mentally, as well, very fresh," he told his post-match news conference. "It's just today I found it very difficult after a long time to breathe because I felt the whole day my nose was closed a little bit."
A Nadal-Federer semifinal has been rarely possible because the pair held the top two spots for most of the time between 2005 and 2010, meaning they could only meet in the finals after being placed in opposite sides of the draw.
Murray, for his part, is surprised to be not facing Nadal in the semifinals.
"It has been amazing, I pretty much drew to be in Nadal's half ... almost every slam," Murray said. "I can't remember the last time I wasn't in his half of the draw. It's been a long time."
On the women's side, former and reigning Wimbledon winners Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova - two of the three players who can take the No. 1 ranking - advanced to the semifinals.
Sharapova won 6-2, 6-3 against fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams in the previous round. Kvitova reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time with a 6-4, 6-4 win over unseeded Italian Sara Errani.
The other player who can reach No. 1 - third-seeded Victoria Azarenka - plays defending champion Kim Clijsters in the other semifinal today.
Sharapova must repeat her 2008 Australian title run if she is to take over the No. 1 spot from Caroline Wozniacki, who lost any chance of maintaining her top ranking when she lost in the quarterfinals to Clijsters. Kvitova only has to match or better Azarenka to take the top spot.
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