Speaking after his Australian Open quarter-final win over Tomas Berdych, Federer said it’s about time the Aussie public eased off on 20-year-old Kyrgios, who was knocked out of the tournament in the third round. He was runner-up in 2014 at Wimbledon and in 2015 at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open – beaten all three times by Djokovic. The world No 1 will now face Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in the last four.
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Djokovic is into the semifinals after besting No. 7 seed Kei Nishikori in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
The No. 3-ranked Federer put on a dazzling display of footwork and shot variety against the No. 6-ranked Czech, improving his record over Berdych to 16-6.
Federer, who reached the last four in Melbourne for the 12th time in the past 13 years, was brilliant and finished with 48 winners and 26 unforced errors.
You’d think after 17 grand slam titles Roger Federer wouldn’t need too many pointers on how to win tennis matches – but that hasn’t stopped his daughters from dishing out some helpful advice for their legendary father.
From there, Williams protected her own serve – even as a baby wailed in the stands in the ninth game as she faced breakpoints – and took high-risk options with her service returns to unsettle Sharapova.
It also brings up Federer’s 47th grand slam quarter-final, which is the most last-eight appearances in the Open era ahead of Jimmy Connors.
Laver went on to win the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in 1969, giving him his second Grand Slam.
Kei Nishikori is the first male player through to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in front of a hugely partisan crowd filled with flag-waving Japanese fans. Whatever he did must have helped – Djokovic went on to win in typically-dominant style, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. Watch the on-court video of Novak Djokovic after his match against Nishikori.
Williams, seeking her seventh title here, broke fifth-seeded Sharapova’s serve and clinched an entertaining first set on her fourth set points.
He soon grew into the contest, however, and opened up a set point at 5-4 only for his opponent to produce a booming serve to hold. It was not immediately apparent what was affecting her.
Williams has not lost to Sharapova since 2004 and she is now unbeaten in 18 matches against the Russian. Reaching the fourth round equaled his best Grand Slam effort.
On Tuesday, a cooler and vastly more experienced Berdych, 30, won’t be handing any more gifts to Federer as he seeks to build on his achievement in reaching the last two Australian Open semi-finals. “I am a tall, quite heavy guy and when you want to compete with guys like Andy, Novak, Rafa (Nadal) and Roger, you are going to have to be extremely fit and be prepared for that”.
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“He’s not afraid come out and play aggressive tennis, which he did in the opening few games”, said Djokovic.
