Wawrinka makes Australian Open Final
Stanislas Wawrinka reached his first Grand Slam final after defeating Tomas Berdych in four sets. It was Wawrinka who started the match stronger, breaking the Berdych serve to take the opening set 6-3. However, the next three sets all went to tie breaks. Berdych levelled the match at one set apiece after winning the second set tie break but it was Wawrinka who took the next set, winning it 7-6 to take a two sets to one lead. It was a nervous affair in the fourth set tie break but eventually Wawrinka wrapped things up to seal his place in the final.
Fourth seed Na Li sealed her place in the women's Australian Open final after straight sets victory over Bouchard. A very impressive run from the young Canadian ended in the semi finals as Na Li proved too strong this time. Two breaks of serve were enough for Na Li to take the first set 6-2 before one break in the second set saw the fourth seed win the second set 6-4 and claim her place in the final. Na Li will play Cibulkova for the title after the Russian defeated fifth seed Radwanska in straight sets in the other semi final. It was a disappointing match for Radwanska who was blown off the court by Cibulkova, losing 6-1,6-2.
My Opinion:
A thrilling match between Stan and Tomas but what an achievement for Wawrinka. An amazing run sees him in the Australian Open final where he will either play Nadal or Federer. Wawrinka was the favourite going into the match after knocking out Djokovic and he didn't disappoint. He started strongly and took the first set but was pegged back to one set all. It took incredible nerve to seal the next two sets in the tie breaks but with the form he's in, anything seems possible.
The women's final will be Na Li against Cibulkova and I for one would never have predicted that. Na Li proved too strong for the highly impressive Bouchard with a straight sets win but I predict a huge season ahead for Bouchard. A great shame to see Radwanska knocked out in the semi's. She would have fancied her chances to win when the top three seeds were knocked out but she was just simply blown off the court by Cibulkova, who is playing the tennis of her life. It was a dominant display from the Russian and deservedly claimed her place in the final. It will be an interesting final to see who holds their nerve better. I would expect Na Li to win as she has experience winning a Slam at the French Open but Cibulkova may pull off a major scalp.
Men's Semi Final Singles Result:
(8) Wawrinka beat (7) Berdych 6-3,6-7,7-6,7-6
Women's Semi Final Singles Results:
(4) Na Li beat (30) Bouchard 6-2,6-4
(20) Cibulkova beat (5) Radwanska 6-1,6-2
Men's Doubles Semi Finals Results:
Butorac/Klaasen beat (8) Nestor/Zimonjic 6-2,6-4
(14) Kubot/Lindstedt beat (13) Llodra/Mahut 6-4,6-7,6-3
Mixed Doubles Quarter Finals Results:
(6) Mirza/Tecau beat Georges/Qureshi 6-3,6-4
Mladenovic/Nestor beat Hantuchova/Paes 6-3,6-4
Boys' Quarter Finals Singles Results:
(1) Zverev beat (11) Chung 6-2,6-4
(2) Kozlov beat (10) Rublev 6-2,6-1
(7) Halys beat Chryochas 6-3,6-4
Mousley beat (9) Majchrzak 6-3,6-4
Girls' Quarter Finals Singles Results:
(7) Sun beat (2) Jorovic 6-3,7-5
(4) Kulichkova beat (6) Ostapenko 6-1,1-6,6-4
Birrell beat (10) Komardina 6-7,6-1,6-3
Fett beat Hauger 6-2,3-6,6-3
Boys' Semi Finals Doubles Results:
(3) Halys/Tatlot beat (7) Jarsika/Majchrzak 6-2,7-6
(5) Meidler/Mousley beat Portero/Munar Clar 6-7,6-3,(10-8)
Girls' Semi Finals Doubles Results:
(1) Kalinina/Kulichkova beat (4) Komardina/Stojanovic 7-5,7-6
(2) Boulter/Jorovic beat Bains/Tjandramulia 6-4,3-6,(10-5)
Match of the Day: Wawrinka defeating Berdych after four sets
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
