Australian Open: Quarter Finals (Day 9)

Wawrinka beats Djokovic in five set thriller

Stanislas Wawrinka produced some of the best tennis of his career to defeat second seed Novak Djokovic in a five set epic Australian Open quarter final. It was Djokovic who hit the ground running in the first set, breaking the Wawrinka serve twice to take it 6-2. However, Wawrinka hit back in the second set and broke the Djokovic serve to level the match at one set apiece. Incredibly, it was Wawrinka who took the third set after storming past Djokovic 6-2. The second seed then took the match into a deciding set after claiming a break of serve to level the match at two sets all. The fifth set was both entertaining and thrilling as both players refused to lose their lose their serve. However, at 7-7 it was Wawrinka who broke first and served the match out to claim his place in the semi finals. Tomas Berdych will play Wawrinka in the semi's after defeating third seed David Ferrer in four sets. It was a fast start from Berdych who raced his way into a one set lead after winning the opening set 6-1. That was followed up by Berdych taking the second 6-4 before Ferrer struck back, taking the third set 6-2. However, it was Berdych who claimed victory after winning the third set 6-4. 
Na Li progressed into the semi finals after a comfortable straight sets victory over Flavia Pennetta. Both sets saw Na Li brake the Pennetta serve twice to claim each set 6-2. Bouchard will be Na Li's semi final opponent after the young Canadian player defeated Ana Ivanovic in three sets. The first set saw Ivanovic break serve at 5-5 before holding serve to win the first set. Bouchard struck back in the second to take the match into a deciding set where the momentum saw Bouchard through to victory. 




My Opinion:
Some great matches today in the quarter finals but one clearly stands out above the others. Stan Wawrinka has improved over the last year but took his tennis to a new level today after defeating a warrior in Djokovic. The match started off strongly for Novak and it looked like he was going to complete a routine win. However, Stan claimed the next two sets, putting himself in the lead whilst amazing the crowd at the same time. Novak levelled the match at 2-2 and it really could have gone either way. It turned out to be a real epic contest but Stan prevailed 9-7 in the fifth to claim the victory of his career. He will be a strong favourite in the semi's against Berdych. Tomas overcame Ferrer in his quarter final and that was to be expected on a hard court. 
No surprises that Na Li defeated Pennetta and it was a pretty straightforward affair. She will be favourite to win the semi and the final now. Incredible performance from young prodigy Bouchard who has made the semi's. It was a really tough and competitive match against the favourite Ivanovic but Bouchard upset all the odds and came out on top in the third set. It should be a great match against Na Li and to see if she can make the final.

Men's Quarter Final Singles Results:
(8) Wawrinka beat (2) Djokovic 2-6,6-4,6-2,3-6,9-7
(7) Berdych beat (3) Ferrer 6-1,6-4,2-6,6-4

Women's Quarter Final Singles Results:
(4) Na Li beat (28) Pennetta 6-2,6-2
(30) Bouchard beat (14) Ivanovic 5-7,7-5,6-2

Men's Doubles Quarter Finals Selected Results:
(8) Nestor/Zimonjic beat Bolt/Whittington 6-2,7-6
Butorac/Klaasen beat (12) Huey/Inglot 6-7,7-6,6-4

Women's Doubles Quarter Finals Results:
(1) Errani/Vinci beat (6) Black/Mirza 6-2,3-6,6-4
(3) Makarova/Vesnina beat (7) Hantuchova/Safarova 6-2,2-6,7-6
(4) Peschke/Srebotnik beat Gajodosova/Tomljanovic 7-5,4-6,6-4
(8) Koops-Jones/Spears beat Peer/Soler-Espinosa 6-4,6-0

Women's Doubles Quarter Finals Results:
Zheng/Lipsky beat (1) Groenfeld/Peya 2-6,7-6,(10-5)
Georges/Qureshi beat (4) Hlavackova/Mirnyi 6-3,6-4

Boys' Second Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Zverev beat Matsumura 4-6,6-2,9-7
(7) Halys beat Anderson 7-5,6-1
(8) Medvedev beat Sun 6-4,6-0

Girls' Second Round Singles Selected Results:
Hauger beat (1) Flink 6-4,6-3
(4) Kulichkova beat Cabrera 6-1,6-3
Fett beat (5) Xu 3-6,6-4,7-5
(6) Ostapenko beat Yerolymos 7-6,6-2
Wallace beat Novotna 6-2,6-1

Boys' Second Round Doubles Selected Results:
(1) Kozlov/Mmoh beat Onishi/Santillan 6-3,6-4
(2) Rublev/Zverev beat Anderson/Klintcharov 6-4,6-2
(3) Halys/Tatlot beat Qui/Zheng 6-3,6-4
Hong/Oh beat (4) Medvedev/Safivllin 6-3,5-7,(16-14)

Girls' Second Round Doubles Selected Results:
(1) Kalinina/Kulichkova beat Reddy/Venugopal 6-1,6-2
(2) Boulter/Jorovic beat Huang/Mcphee 2-6,6-1,(10-4)
Bains/Ijandramulia beat (3) Xu/You 6-7,6-3,(12-10)
(4) Komardina/Stojanovic beat Cao/Zheng 6-2,4-6,(10-7)
(5) Stollar/Wallace beat Fett/Yerolymos 3-6,6-3,(12-10)
Christie/Ostapenko beat (6) Buayam/Tomic 6-4,6-2

Match of the Day: Stanislas Wawrinka defeating Novak Djokovic in a five set epic

Australian Open: Fourth Round (Day 7)

Ivanovic knocks Serena out of Australian Open

There was a major upset in the women's fourth round singles as Ana Ivanovic defeated Serena Williams in a three set thriller. The first set was closely competitive but it was Serena who broke serve to win 6-4. Ivanovic struck back to level the match at one set all after taking it 6-3. The crowd were left shocked as Ivanovic outplayed Serena from the back of the court to claim a major scalp and knock the number one seed out. Na Li cruised into the quarter finals after thrashing Makarova 6-2,6-0. Flavia Pennetta caused another upset after beating ninth seed Angelique Kerber in the third set. Rising star Bouchard overcame a tough encounter with Casey Dellacqua but prevailed in the third set with a bagel. 
Novak Djokovic sealed his place in the quarter finals after tearing apart Fabio Fognini. The second seed dominated the match, losing only five games along the way. David Ferrer defeated Mayer but needed four sets to do so. Tomas Berdych prevailed over the big serving Kevin Anderson with a straight sets victory. Stanislas Wawrinka battled his way past a stern opponent in Tommy Robredo after grinding his way to victory through three hard fought sets.



My Opinion:
Totally shocked that Serena lost a set, never mind lost the match. An incredible effort from Ana Ivanovic to defeat Serena. To come from a set down and beat Serena takes real guts and spirit but that was hugely impressive from Ivanovic who surely becomes favourite to win the title. Na Li made life easy for herself after a crushing win over Makarova. The fourth seed will fancy her chances amongst the others still in it to win now that Serena has gone. Kerber fails once again in a slam after being knocked out by the hard hitting Pennetta. The more I see of the young Bouchard, the more I'm impressed. Widely tipped to be a star in the future and from what I've seen from her game and results, nobody wants to play her. Fognini was simply given a lesson by Djokovic who strolled past the Italian. Ferrer was made to work for his quarter final place but made it there safely enough. No surprise to see Berdych come out on top of the battle of the big servers. Tomas has much more to his game than just a big serve and demonstrated that well today. Stan Wawrinka played well in both the tie breaks during his win over Robredo and deserves some credit for doing so. 

Men's Fourth Round Singles Selected Results:
(2) Djokovic beat (15) Fognini 6-3,6-0,6-2
(3) Ferrer beat Mayer 6-7,7-5,6-2,6-1
(7) Berdych beat (19) Anderson 6-2,6-2,6-3
(8) Wawrinka beat (17) Robredo 6-3,7-6,7-6

Women's Fourth Round Singles Selected Results:
(14) Ivanovic beat (1) S.Williams 4-6,6-3,6-3
(4) Na Li beat (22) Makarova 6-2,6-0
(28) Pennetta beat (9) Kerber 6-1,4-6,7-5
(30) Bouchard beat Dellacqua 6-7,6-2,6-0

Men's Doubles Third Round Selected Results:
(13) Llodra/Mahut beat (2) Peya/Soares 7-6,6-4
(12) Huey/Inglot beat (7) Bopanna/Qureshi 6-4,7-6

Women's Doubles Third Round Selected Results:
(1) Errani/Vinci beat Adamczak/Rogowska 6-2,6-2
(4) Peschke/Srebotnik beat (13) Chan/Huber 6-2,6-7,6-4

Mixed Doubles First Round Selected Results:
Raymond/Fyrstenberg beat (3) Huber/Melo 6-2,6-2
Rodionova/Fleming beat Kuznetsova/Zimonjic 6-4,6-4
Spears/Inglot beat Hradecka/Emmrich 6-1,7-6

Boys' First Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Zverev beat Serdarusic 6-3,6-4
(2) Kozlov beat Molt 7-6,4-6,7-5
Molcan beat (4) Safiullin 3-6,7-6,6-4

Girls' First Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Flink beat Ye 7-5,6-4
(9) Boulter beat Venugopal 6-3,6-3
Wallace beat (12) Han 6-3,5-7,12-10

Boys' First Round Doubles Selected Results:
(1) Kozlov/Mmoh beat Chung/Kang 6-2,6-0

Girls' First Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Kalinina/Kulichkova beat Birrell/Dokic 6-1,6-4
(5) Stollar/Wallace beat Dikosavlevic/Hoang 7-5,6-4
Cabrera/Hives beat Arbuthnott/Hauger 6-3,6-2

Match of the Day: Ivanovic defeating Serena Williams in a three set thriller
Upset of the Day: Number one seed Serena Williams knocked out by Ivanovic