Australian Open: Quarter Finals (Day 10)

Federer defeats Murray, Azarenka out

Roger Federer overcame Andy Murray after four sets to reach the Australian Open semi finals. It was the Swiss player who looked in control from the start and after breaking the Murray serve, held out to claim the first set 6-3. The second set continued in similar fashion to the first and it was once again  Federer broke the Murray serve to take the second set 6-4. A tie break was needed to finish the third set as both players held serve but Murray pounced to take the match into a fourth set. Federer played against the momentum of the match to seal his place in the semi finals after taking the fourth set 6-3. Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer in the semi finals after the Spaniard sealed a four set victory over Grigor Dimitrov. It was the Bulgarian who started the match in strong fashion and took the opening set 6-3. The match could have swung either way after the second set but it was Nadal who claimed it in the tie break whilst the number one seed took the third set tie break to take a 2-1 sets lead. With the momentum in favour of Nadal, the Spaniard stormed to victory and took the fourth set 6-2.
In the women's draw, fifth seed Radwanska defeated second seed Victoria Azarenka after three sets. It was the Pole who raced away with the first set, taking it 6-1. Azarenka came back in the second set and broke serve to level the match at one set apiece. However, only one player turned up for the third set as Azarenka suffered a bagel to Radwanska. It will be Cibulkova who faces Radwanska in the semis after the 22nd seed defeated 11th seed Halep in straight sets. In a very one way match, Cilbulkova thrashed Halep and only conceded three games during the entire match.



My Opinion:
A great shame to see Andy go out in the quarters but Federer was simply too good today. It was a decent tournament for Andy considering he only just came back from injury to play. Federer has looked back to his best so far and did not disappoint today and deservedly won the match. The momentum seemed to going in Murray's favour heading into the fourth set but Federer dug deep to churn out the win. It should be a great semi final against Nadal who himself came through a tough match. Dimitrov played really well and it could have been a completely different story had he taken one of the tie breaks. I'm hoping it will be a classic between Roger and Rafa and it should be really interesting to see who comes out on top.
Azarenka and Radwanska both knew that they could win the tournament now that Serena is out but it was Radwanska who took the semi final place with a dominating win. Azarenka struggled in the first set but did well to take it into a third. However, Radwanska just proved too strong and obliterated Azarenka from the back of the court. She will be favourite in the semis against Cibulkova but the 22nd seed easily dismissed of Halep so it may not be such an easy match. 

Men's Quarter Final Singles Results:
(1) Nadal beat (22) Dimitrov 3-6,7-6,7-6,6-2
(6) Federer beat (4) Murray 6-3,6-4,6-7,6-3

Women's Quarter Final Singles Results:
(5) Radwanska beat (2) Azarenka 6-1,5-7,6-0
(22) Cibulkova beat (11) Halep 6-3,6-0

Men's Doubles Quarter Finals Selected Results:
(13) Llodra/Mahut beat (5) Paes/Stepanek 6-2,7-6
(14) Kubot/Lindstedt beat Mirnyi/Youzhny 6-4,5-7,6-2

Women's Doubles Semi Finals Results:
(1) Errani/Vinci beat (4) Peschke/Srebotnik 6-1,6-4
(3) Makarova/Vesnina beat (8) Koops-Jones/Spears7-5,3-6,6-3

Mixed Doubles Quarter Finals Results:
Gajdosova/Edben beat (2) Srebotnik/Bopanna 7-5,6-3
Zheng/Lipsky beat (5) Garrigues/Soares 3-6,6-4,(10-7)

Boys' Third Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Zverev beat (15) Zormanda Silva 6-2,6-3
(2) Kozlov beat Pokotilov 6-1,6-2
(7) Halys beat (12) Lee 7-6,6-2
(11) Chung beat (8) Medvedev 6-3,3-6,6-1
(9) Majchrzak beat Polmans 6-3,6-3
(10) Rublev beat Bourchier 7-5,6-7,(14-12)

Girls' Third Round Singles Selected Results:
(2) Jorovic beat Paolini 6-2,6-2
(4) Kulichkova beat Aiava 7-6,6-0
(6) Ostapenko beat Bains 3-6,7-5,6-1
(7) Sun beat (9) Boulter 6-2,6-4
(10) Komardina beat Haltingh 6-4,6-4
Fett beat Wallace 3-6,6-1,6-1

Boys' Quarter Finals Doubles Results:
(7) Jasika/Majchrzak beat (1) Kozlov/Mmoh 6-2,5-7,(10-8)
(5) Meidler/Mosley beat (2) Rublev/Zverev 6-4,7-6
(3) Halys/Tatlot beat Shakhnubaryan/Vasilyov 6-3,6-4
Portero/Clar beat (4) Medvedev/Safiullin 7-5,6-1

Girls' Quarter Finals Doubles Results:
(1) Kalinina/Kulichkova beat Christie/Ostapenko 3-6,6-1,(10-8)
(2) Boulter/Jorovic beat Cabrera/Hives 7-6,7-5
(4) Komardina/Stojanovic beat (5) Stollar/Wallace 6-3,6-3
Bains/Ijandramulia beat (8) Hon/Teichmann 6-1,6-4

Match of the Day: Federer triumphing over Murray after four sets

Australian Open: Fourth Round (Day 8)

Murray and Nadal through, Sharapova out

Andy Murray fought his way into the Australian Open quarter finals after defeating Robert with a four set victory. The first two sets saw Murray dominate the match, taking a two set lead after only dropping three games. However, Robert took the third set tie break to force the match into a fourth set. Murray wasted no time in the fourth set, taking it 6-2 to make the quarters. Rafael Nadal overcame a tough encounter with Kei Nishikori. Each set was very competitive but it was Nadal who prevailed each time to claim a straight sets victory. Roger Federer continues his fine run of form with an impressive straight sets win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Grigor Dimitrov knocked out Del Potro's conqueror with a four set win over Bautista-Agut.
Victoria Azarenka made it through to the quarters with a solid win over the dangerous Sloane Stephens. One break was enough to take the first set whilst Azarenka took the second set after breaking serve twice. It was the end of the road for third seed Maria Sharapova who crashed out to Cibulkova. It was Sharapova who took the opening set but was taken into a third after losing the second set 6-4. However, it was Cibulkova who stormed to victory, winning the third set 6-1. Fifth seed Radwanska booked her place in the quarters with a straight sets win over Muguruzu whilst Halep produced a bagel in the third set to knock out eighth seed Jankovic. 



My Opinion:
Great to see Murray progress into the quarters although he did concede the third set to Robert. It will be a great match next for Murray who will play Roger Federer after the Swiss player looked very impressive to breeze past Tsonga. Nishikori gave Nadal a really tough match and was unfortunate not to have taken a set off him. Nadal just proved too strong in both the tie breaks and claims his place in the quarters. It was a superb performance from Dimitrov, who carries a lot of expectation on his shoulders, to knock out the dangerous Bautista-Agut. Meanwhile, in the woman's draw Azarenka played well to defeat a strong baseline player in Stephens rather comfortably. Very shocked that Sharapova lost to Cibulkova. It was a really close match going into the third set but surprisingly it was Cibulkova who stormed to victory. Sharapova has struggled in recent slams and still doesn't look back to her best. Radwanska progresses nicely into the quarters with an expected win over Muguruzu whilst it was a good battle between Halep and Jankovic with Halep proving way too strong for Jankovic in the third set.  

Men's Fourth Round Singles Selected Results:
(1) Nadal beat (16) Nishikori 7-6,7-5,7-6
(4) Murray beat Robert 6-1,6-2,6-7,6-2
(6) Federer beat (10) Tsonga 6-3,7-5,6-4
(22) Dimitrov beat Bautista-Agut 6-3,3-6,6-2,6-4

Women's Fourth Round Singles Selected Results:
(2) Azarenka beat (13) Stephens 6-3,6-2
(20) Cibulkova beat (3) Sharapova 3-6,6-4,6-1
(5) Radwanska beat Muguruzu 6-1,6-3
(11) Halep beat (8) Jankovic 6-4,2-6,6-0

Men's Doubles Third Round Selected Results:
(3) Butorac/Klaasen beat (1) Bryan/Bryan 7-6,6-4
(14) Kubot/Lindstedt beat (4) Dodig/Melo 5-7,6-4,6-4

Women's Doubles Third Round Selected Results:
(3) Makarova/Vesnina beat (15) Hantuchova/Raymond 6-4,6-7,6-2
(6) Black/Mirza beat Bouchard/Dushevina 6-4,6-3

Mixed Doubles First Round Selected Results:
(4) Hlavackova/Mirnyi beat Dellacqua/Hutchins 6-4,6-4

Mixed Doubles Second Round Selected Results:
(2) Srebotnik/Bopanna beat Barty/Peers 7-6,7-5
(5) Garrigues/Soares beat Spears/Inglot 6-7,7-5,(10-8)
(6) Mirza/Tecau beat Rodionova/Fleming 6-2,6-2

Boys' Second Round Singles Selected Results:
(2) Kozlov beat Soendergaard 6-7,7-5,6-0

Girls' Second Round Singles Selected Results:
(2) Jorovic beat Teichmann 6-2,6-3
Birrell beat (3) Kalinina 2-6,6-4,6-4
(9) Boulter beat Vikhyatseva 6-4,6-3

Boys' First Round Doubles Selected Results:
(2) Rublev/Zverev beat De Minaut/Hobart 6-2,6-4
(3) Halys/Tatlot beat Fukvola/Nakagawa 4-6,6-3,(10-3)
(4) Medvedev/Safiullin beat Berettini/Cutuli 7-6,6-4

Girls' First Round Doubles Selected Results:
(2) Boulter/Jorovic beat Arakawa/Ye 7-5,6-4
(3) Xu/You beat Francati/Mihalikova 6-3,6-1
(4) Komardina/Stojanovic beat Aiava/Mendez 6-2,6-4
Christie/Ostapenko beat McIntyre/Pits 6-2,6-2

Match of the Day: Federer defeating Tsonga in straight sets
Upset of the Day: Cibulkova beat third seed Maria Sharapova after three sets