Djokovic magnanimous in defeat
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A MAGNANIMOUS Novak Djokovic said he lost to the better player as his 25-match win streak at the Australian Open was ended by Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinals yesterday.
The Serb led by a break of serve in the final set at 2-1 but Wawrinka hit back to win 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7, revenge for his defeat by Djokovic in another epic battle at the same stage last year. The four-time champion, and winner in each of the past three years, missed a simple volley on match point to hand Wawrinka his semifinal spot and had no complaints about the result.
“Obviously I’m disappointed but tomorrow is a new day,” Djokovic said. “I have to accept the fact that you can’t win all the matches that you play.
“One thing I can be proud of is that I gave my best (but) it wasn’t enough. I know that I fought all the way through and laid my heart out there. It’s a battle. One of us has to lose. He was a better player. He stepped in and he won the match.”
Djokovic was bidding to become the first man in the open era to win the title four times in a row. Having won the first set, Djokovic was out-hit by eighth seed Wawrinka, who fired a string of brilliant backhands for winners. The Swiss levelled the match and then rode his momentum to go ahead only for Djokovic to hit back and force a decider.
When he broke for 2-1 in the final set, it looked as if he would pull off another dramatic escape but a loose game put things back on serve and then at 8-7, two errors from the Serb gave Wawrinka arguably the biggest win of his career.
Next up Berdych
“He took his opportunities. He deserved this win today. I congratulate him absolutely. There is nothing I can say.”
“He deserves to win this match tonight because he’s a great player and he’s mentally matured and that’s it.”
The Swiss will meet seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 winner over Spaniard David Ferrer, in his first Melbourne Park semifinal.
“I came on the court tonight with a lot of confidence in myself, knowing that if I play my best game I always have a chance against him,” Wawrinka said. “It’s always tough especially against Novak. I was tired, I was cramping a bit, I was nervous too. I had to fight within myself to fight against him and try to keep my line during the game. Last year was really tough, this year it’s a new year.”
On the women’s side, 19-year-old Canadian Eugenie Bouchard reached the semifinals in her first trip to the Australian Open, stunning Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 to set up a showdown with two-time finalist Li Na.
Bouchard rallied from a set down to beat resurgent 2008 French Open champion Ivanovic and reinforce her status as one of the game’s most exciting prospects.
Ivanovic had beaten top-ranked Serena Williams in a massive upset in the previous round. Bouchard is the first Canadian to reach the Australian Open semifinals.
That result means Li Na, who beat Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-2 in an earlier quarterfinal featuring two women who’ll turn 32 next month, will have to face a teenager for the third time in the tournament.
Li, seeking her second grand slam title, is peaking at the right time, with the 67-minute mauling coming after she smashed past Ekaterina Makarova in less than an hour on Sunday.
“I think everyone wants to win a grand slam. But first you have to be in the semis, right?” said Li, when asked about her chances with Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova both already out. “But I was really happy today. At least tomorrow I have a day off. I can talk with (coach) Carlos (Rodriguez), can talk with the team and prepare for the next round.”
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