Djokovic, Wawrinka set up epic showdown, Venus out
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TOP seed Novak Djokovic and champion Stan Wawrinka set up ‘The Djoker vs The Man 3.0’ at Melbourne Park after impressive quarterfinal victories yesterday, while an ill Serena Williams moved a step closer to her 19th grand slam title.
The American, however, will first have to overcome the pure hitting of Madison Keys after the 19-year-old ended the fairytale run of Serena’s older sister Venus, despite suffering from a thigh injury that hampered her movement.
Djokovic, seeking to become the second man to win a fifth Australian Open title, beat Canada’s Milos Raonic 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 in the late match on Rod Laver Arena, hours after Wawrinka had easily dispatched fifth seed Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6).
“Definitely expecting a marathon like the last couple of years. I’m sure that both of us will give our best to perform our best tennis,” Djokovic said. “We always ask for the best of each other.”
It will be the third successive year Djokovic and Wawrinka have met at the Australian Open, with the man winning those epic clashes ultimately going on to clinch the title.
As defending champion in 2013, Djokovic prevailed 12-10 in the fifth set in their fourth round clash.
Last year, Wawrinka won the fifth set 9-7 in their quarterfinal, indicating fans yesterday should be set for another epic encounter.
American teenager Keys proved to be the ultimate party pooper with her victory over Venus while at the same time indicating the mantle of American women’s tennis should be in safe hands when it is moved on from the two sisters.
Serena and Venus had been hoping to provide fans with the first all-Williams sisters clash at a grand slam since the 2009 Wimbledon final in the semifinals.
Keys, who was inspired at four years old to take up the game after seeing Venus play at Wimbledon, refused to succumb to sentimentality and demonstrated the ball striking and power hitting, which had destroyed players of the calibre of double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, in a 29-minute first set.
An adductor injury that forced her out of the Wimbledon third round last year, just days after she had stormed to the Eastbourne title, however, flared up again in the second set, which brought back some desperate memories.
Keys, now coached by former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, however, showed her maturity and mental toughness once she settled to overpower Venus and battle through the injury to advance to her first grand slam semifinal.
Keys’ chances of making the final have improved with the world No. 1 battling the effects of a cold after a virus hit several players at the tournament.
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