The first Grand Slam of the year is coming to the business end as players in the last 4 get ready to battle it out and play in the prestigious Australian Open finals. All the four men’s semifinalists are ranked inside the top 10, making way for a great climax.
Nadal getting close to his 21st Grand Slam Title
Rafael Nadal defeated 14th seeded Russian Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 in an entertaining 5-set quarter-final tie. The Spaniard had won the Adelaide ATP – his 89th title- and looked in great form coming into the tournament.
The No.6 seed had lost just a single set in the previous 4 matches before the Russian pushed him to the limit in the quarter-finals.
The first semi-final will see Rafa lock horns with Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.
The world No.7 will be aiming for his first Australian Open final, but he has to overcome Rafa’s prowess on the court to reach the finals.
With 20 Grand Slam titles, Nadal will be looking to win a record 21st Grand Slam surpassing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic- both have 20 titles each.
Medvedev faces Tsitsipas Challenge
Daniil Medvedev overcame Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-4 in an enthralling 5 set affair in the quarter-finals. The world No.2 overcame a 2-set deficit to win the remaining 3 sets in a match that lasted for almost 5 hours.
The US Open winner meets Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second semi-final. Tsitsipas had an effortless straight sets victory against Italy’s Janek Sinner in the quarter-finals.
The world No.4 has never won a Grand Slam and would want to make use of his exceptional form of late to land his hands on the elusive title.
On the other hand, Medvedev would want to continue his Grand Slam title-winning form from last year’s US Open.
Both the semi-finals will take place at the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, on Friday.
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Ashleigh Barty on course to Maiden Home Grand Slam Title
The 25-year-old Australian has not stepped a foot wrong in the event coming into the semi-finals. Barty is the only semi-finalist who has managed to win every set in the tournament so far and is the hot favourite to lift the Australian Open this year.
She will be facing Madison Keys of the USA in her semi-final match. Keys will have her task set up as she faces the world No.1 in her backyard. The American should put on a scintillating performance to stop the Barty juggernaut.
Iga Swiatek takes on Danielle Collins in the second semi-finals
Polish World No.7 Swiatek will play American Danielle Collins in the second semis. Collins defeated higher-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium in the 4th round to reach the quarter-finals, which she eventually won against Alize Cornet on Wednesday.
Winners of the women’s semi-finals will play the finals on Saturday, and men’s finalists will play on Sunday in the Rod Laver Arena.
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