This year’s tournament should be renamed The Australian Wide Open 2014 as there have been so many upsets and today was no different!
Dominika Cibulkova (20) met Simona Halep (11) in the first quarterfinal. Halep battled to find her rhythm and Cibulkova had a easy but focused victory, 63 60.
The second match was between the defending champion, Victoria Azarenka (2) and Agnieszka Radwanska (5). The Head2Head going into this match was 12-3 in Azarenka’s favour, but that didn’t stop the Pole, as she ousted the defending champion 61 57 60 and in doing so, handed Azarenka only her second bagel in Grand Slam tennis.
With both Djokovic and Azarenka out, it is the first time in the Open Era history that both defending champions have not progressed past the quarterfinals.
Both Cibulkova and Radwanska must be feeling that some days it pays to be the “underdog”!
As we’ve once again seen in tennis, nothing is guaranteed but there is one sure thing at least…there will be a brand new Australian Open Ladies singles champion on Saturday.
The semi-final draw for tomorrow is Li Na vs Eugenie Bouchard and Agnieszka Radwanska vs Dominika Cibulkova.
In the Men’s draw, there were two quarterfinal matches played today.
First up was Rafael Nadal (1) against Grigor Dimitrov (22). Dimitrov, who has had a very impressive tournament this year started of well by winning the first set, but it didn’t take Nadal long to put his foot on the gas. After two tight second and third sets, he left the Bulgarian trailing and won the match 36 76 76 62.
His old rival, Roger Federer (6) was up against Andy Murray (4) in the second match. Murray who spent three months sidelined following surgery showed signs of discomfort during the match, but still managed to push the Suisse to four sets and in doing so producing some great tennis. Federer won the match 63 64 67 63. This will be Federer’s 11th consecutive semi-final appearance at the Australian Open and he will face Rafael Nadal for the place in the final.
The other semi-final will be played between Tomas Berdych and Stanislas Wawrinka.
Image courtesy of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament.