To Set up Semi with Zverev ‘I Lost an Opportunity to Be in the Semi-Finals of Another Grand Slam
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 4 NNBABA | Page 5 Trezeguet Middleton sends Villa into scores 51 as League Bucks blast Cup fi nal Wizards Thursday, January 30, 2020 CRICKET Jumada II 5, 1441 AH Rohit, Shami shine GULF TIMES as India clinch NZ series in Super Over SPORT Page 7 TENNIS / AUSTRALIAN OPEN Thiem stuns Nadal in ‘epic’ to set up semi with Zverev ‘I lost an opportunity to be in the semi-finals of another Grand Slam. But I lost against a great opponent. He deserved it’ AFP Melbourne, Australia ustria’s Dominic Thiem stunned Rafael Nadal in an “epic” four-setter yesterday to send the Aworld number one tumbling out of the Australian Open and set up a semi-fi nal against Alexander Zverev. The fi fth seed, beaten by Nadal in the last two French Open fi - nals, battled past the Spaniard 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6) to deny him a crack at a record- equalling 20th Grand Slam title. He will now meet German seventh seed Zverev, who shat- tered the dreams of veteran Stan Wawrinka 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to book his maiden place in a Grand Slam last four. Awaiting the winner of that clash will be either seven-time champion Novak Djokovic or six- time winner Roger Federer, who meet in the other semi-fi nal. “All the match was on a very good level, I think we are both in great form,” said Thiem, only the second Austrian to make the Melbourne semis after Thomas Muster — the man he sacked this week as an adviser. “Today I had the feeling I was lucky in the right situation... it Austria’s Dominic Thiem celebrates his victory over Spain’s Rafael Nadal (right) in the men’s singles quarter-final on day ten of the Australian is necessary because he is one of Open in Melbourne yesterday. (AFP) the greatest of all time. You need some luck to beat him.” And the signs pointed that crosscourt return. He saved a set too long to serve and it rattled But when Nadal shanked a Thiem added that he was ec- way again, with the opening set point to take it to a tie-breaker him, sending down a double forehand to be broken in the third static at beating “a great cham- on serve to 2-2 before Thiem, where he rocked Nadal to seal a fault as Thiem squared the set game of set four, the momentum pion” and “really proud how I gunning for a fi rst Grand Slam one-set lead. at 4-4. swung back to the Austrian. stayed in the match”, which he title, worked a break point but Nadal saved a set point and it He lost his nerve serving for called “an epic”. couldn’t convert. FAMOUS VICTORY went to another tie-break where the match at 5-4 before fi nally Top seed Nadal had a 9-4 Both baseline-huggers, it be- Nadal, dripping in sweat on a Thiem prevailed at the crunch getting over the line in a tie- record over Thiem and had beat- came a slugfest before Nadal steamy Melbourne night, at- thanks to a lucky net cord. break for a famous victory. en him in all their fi ve previous managed to open some doors on tacked in the second set and The third set was similar- “Of course, I am sad. I lost an Slam meetings. the Thiem serve in game eight Thiem lost his serve to love to go ly tight, with no breaks until opportunity to be in the semi- But the last time they played and he broke with a perfect lob 3-2 behind. Nadal teased some errors from fi nals of another Grand Slam. But on hardcourts — at the 2018 US from the back of the court. But the Spaniard, the 2009 Thiem as he served to stay in I lost against a great opponent. Germany’s Alexander Zverev (right) is interviewed by John McEnroe Open quarter-fi nals — it was a But Thiem came roaring back, champion, became riled when the set, pumping his fists in cel- And he deserved it, too,” said after beating Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka (not pictured) in the fi ve-set marathon. breaking back with a ripping issued with a warning for taking ebration. Nadal. quarter-final yesterday. (Reuters) SPOTLIGHT Resurgent Muguruza sets up Halep clash at Australian Open AFP failing to win two matches in line Wozniacki, but said: “That Melbourne, Australia a row after the French Open in match wasn’t negative at all. I May/June. couldn’t fi nish (win) the match, But seeking inspiration, she maybe I was nervous. nseeded Garbine Mu- climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in “But now I have more experi- guruza underlined her the off -season and reunited with ence. That match helped me win return to form by reach- coach Conchita Martinez, and the two Grand Slams that I have ing the Australian Open the results have been almost im- already, and maybe it will help me Usemi-fi nals for the fi rst time yes- mediate. get the third one.” terday, setting up a clash with Halep wasted no time assert- fellow two-time Grand Slam IRRESISTIBLE HALEP ing her authority over 28th seed champion Simona Halep. Earlier, Halep powered into the Kontaveit, who was contesting The 26-year-old Spaniard, a semi-fi nals in 53 minutes with a her fi rst Grand Slam quarter- former world number one, de- 6-1, 6-1 destruction of Estonia’s fi nal. feated Russia’s 30th seed Anas- Anett Kontaveit. Halep broke the 24-year-old tasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-3 in The 28-year-old Halep, the in the third game of the fi rst set, a hot and sunny Melbourne. only quarter-fi nalist not to drop a then again in the fi fth game. The other semi-fi nal today set, is bidding to add the Austral- Spectators at Rod Laver Arena sees top seed and home hope Spain’s Garbine Muguruza reacts as she plays against Russia’s Romania’s Simona Halep celebrates her win over Estonia’s Anett ian Open title to her 2018 French had barely had time to settle into Ashleigh Barty face American Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (not pictured) during their women’s singles Kontaveit (not pictured) in the women’s singles quarter-final in Open crown and last year’s Wim- their seats. 14th seed Sofi a Kenin. quarter-final in Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. (AFP) Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. (AFP) bledon triumph. The former world number one “Sometimes you don’t feel “I felt great today on court. I sealed a one-sided fi rst set in 29 great but you’ve got to fi ght and it was a very important set and the girls’ Australian Open title minutes on fi rst set point. It extends a rotten run of was feeling my game, I felt strong minutes with a rocket of a fore- stay there,” said Muguruza, now I’m glad I got it.” in 2006 and 2007, and Muguruza Pavlyuchenkova struggled last-eight defeats for Pavly- on my legs,” said the red-hot hand that the overwhelmed Es- ranked 32 in the world, after “I’m excited to play my fi rst twice exchanged breaks in the with her serve in the second set uchenkova, who in 49 Grand fourth seed. tonian had no chance of retriev- reaching her fi rst Grand Slam semi-fi nal here. I’ve known her fi rst set for 4-4. and Muguruza, the 2016 French Slam tournaments has reached “I know how to play against ing. semi-fi nal since Roland Garros (Halep) for quite a long time so But Muguruza got the decisive Open champion and Wimble- six quarter-fi nals without ever her so I was just focused on every Halep broke again at the start in 2018. it’s going to be a tough match,” break at 5-4 up when the Rus- don winner in 2017, served for going further. point I played.” of the second set and wrapped “The fi rst set was very hard, I she added. sian put her backhand long, the the match at 5-3, sealing it with a Muguruza struggled badly for The Romanian lost the 2018 up a dominant victory in style, think it lasted about an hour, but Pavlyuchenkova, 28, who won Spaniard sealing the fi rst set in 56 drop volley. form in the second half of 2019, fi nal in Melbourne to Caro- sending down an ace. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, January 30, 2020 TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN ‘Roger is Roger’ — Djoko not underestimating ageless great Federer and Djokovic have dominated the Australian Open for years with the all-conquering pair sharing 12 of the last 14 titles AFP Melbourne ovak Djokovic is ever respectful of “great fi ghter” Roger Federer, but the Serb goes into Ntheir Australian Open semi-fi nal as clear favourite after beat- ing the Swiss maestro in every Grand Slam meeting since Wim- bledon 2012. The pair enjoy one of world sport’s greatest rivalries and will be facing each other today for a 50th time stretching back to 2006. Djokovic leads 26-23. While Federer won their last clash at the ATP Finals in No- vember, the Serb has a psycho- logical edge at the Slams, beat- ing him in all fi ve showdowns since losing in the All England club semis eight years ago. Sixteen-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic has also been in fi ne touch at Melbourne Park as he targets a record eighth title, dropping just one set en route to the last four.