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Home , 2016 French Open, Anett Kontaveit, Dominic Thiem

Rohit slams sixes to steer India to Super Over win over Kiwis page 15 THURSday, JANUARY 30, 2020 Rise of youngsters at the Open as Thiem floors Nadal in thriller Zverev knocks out Wawrinka to get into semis

AFP Melbourne Knocking on

Dominic Thiem shocked top the door seed and Alex- ander Zverev ousted former Several young players champion have been knocking on as ’s young pretenders the door of the Big stole a march on the old guard to reach the Three of Rafael Nadal, semi-finals on Wednesday. and ’s Thiem, 26, , and Former tennis player John McEnroe conducts on-court interview with beat Nadal 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 Germany’s after his men’s singles quarter-final (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) – his either match against Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka at the Australian Open first win in six attempts at or Alexander Zverev in Melbourne on Wednesday. 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. (AFP) Grand Slams, including two finals – to end will get a chance to the 33-year-old’s bid to equal kick it open in Open Results Roger Federer’s record 20 Sunday’s final. Men’s Singles Quarter-finals Major titles. Alexander Zverev (GER x7) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x15) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 Dominic Thiem (AUT x5) bt Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) Women’s Singles Quarter-finals (ROM x4) bt (EST x28) 6-1, 6-1 Garbine Muguruza (ESP) bt (RUS x30) 7-5, 6-3.

it should happen,” he added. after her third Major title. Wimbledon champion “It’s just a feeling that you Simona Halep has also ben- don’t see this trophy as im- Earlier Zverev, 22, beat efited from a more relaxed possible anymore.” 2014 champion Wawrinka, Austria’s Dominic Thiem after his epic win over Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the men’s singles quarter-final match of the Australian Open in approach as she swept aside Halep’s semi-final is 34, to go into a semi-final Melbourne on Wednesday. Thiem won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6) in a battle that lasted over four hours. (AFP) Anett Kontaveit 6-1, 6-1 to against fellow two-time Slam- with Thiem, meaning that reach the semi-finals without winner Garbine Muguruza, one of them will reach Sun- the floor after falling to win est of all time. You need some from a set down to halt three- hard at the Majors. dropping a set. who continued her impres- day’s final against Roger one point and enjoying some luck to beat him.” time Major-winner Waw- “I was doing things in a The Romanian fourth sive return to form by beating Federer or Novak Djokovic, luck from the net cord to set Several young players rinka 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and way too professional way. seed, who is spending time Russian 30th seed Anastasia who have won 12 of the last up the third and decisive have been knocking on the reach his first I was not talking to any- away from tennis between Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-3. 14 Australian Open titles. match point. door of the of Nad- semi-final. body. I wasn’t going out with matches, said she was finally “I’m excited to play my Thiem had Nadal’s meas- “I was lucky in the right al, Federer and Djokovic, and Big things have been friends. I wasn’t having din- feeling comfortable on the first semi-final here,” said ure in the first two sets and situation – the net cord was either Thiem or Zverev will tipped for Zverev since he ner. I was just really almost biggest stage. the unseeded former world he recovered from dropping really on my side,” Thiem get a chance to kick it open in burst into the top 10 in 2017, too focused.” “I just feel more confident number one, who won the the third to win the fourth- said. “But it’s necessary be- Sunday’s final. but he said that until now he “I changed that a little bit and I feel like I’m able to do and 2017 set tie-breaker, getting off cause he is one of the great- Germany’s Zverev rallied has been pushing himself too this week... maybe this is how it,” said Halep, who is going Wimbledon. Barty time as home hero Federer and Djokovic bids to live up to hype AFP She is yet to drop a set in clash for 50th time Melbourne Melbourne as she chases a third Grand Slam title, hav- is two victo- ing triumphed at Roland Gar- The two have had very different paths to their imminent semi-final at Australian Open ries away from becoming the ros in 2018 and defeated Ser- Australian Open’s first home- ena Williams 6-2, 6-2 to win DPA “To come back and save grown winner in 42 years, but Wimbledon last year. Melbourne seven match points at his age, the top seed must first tame “Perfection doesn’t exist, I mean, he’s still playing such aggressive American Sofia but I’m very happy with the Roger Federer and Novak a great tennis and proving that Kenin on Thursday. way I played,” Halep said af- Djokovic will on Thursday he deserves to be up there. The other-semi final at ter disposing of 28th-seeded clash for the 50th time in their He’s a great fighter,” Djokovic the Australian Open in Mel- Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-1, careers - and 17th at a major - said of the performance. bourne, where temperatures 6-1 in her quarter-final on as they both seek to extend re- In Federer’s mind all are forecast to soar to nearly Wednesday. “I felt great on cords at the Australian Open. the close saves did was tak- 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahr- court, I was moving great, I World number two Djoko- ing pressure off: “With these enheit), tees up Wimbledon felt the ball really, really good.” vic is looking for an unprec- lucky escapes all of a sud- champion Simona Halep and But in Muguruza, Halep edented eighth title at Mel- den you might play without unseeded Garbine Muguruza. Ashleigh Barty is two wins away takes on a player with Grand bourne Park – Federer has expectations any more, be- The 23-year-old Barty is from becoming the Australian Slam pedigree whose confi- six – while with a 21th Grand cause you know you should the only Australian left in the Open’s first home-grown winner dence is also soaring. Slam title Federer would wid- actually already be skiing in men’s or women’s draw and since Chris O’Neil in 1978. Like Halep, Muguruza is a en the gap that separates him Switzerland actually, and not will be expected to beat Kenin, former world number one and from Rafael Nadal and Djoko- on the way there.” What is the 14th seed contesting her Women’s Singles Semis winner at Roland Garros and vic’s total tallies – 19 and 16 sure about this final is that first Grand Slam semi-final. Wimbledon. respectively. it won’t be Rafael Nadal’s Barty, into the semi-finals 1-Ashleigh Barty (AUS) vs 14- Unlike Halep, the 26-year- While the Swiss has won familiar face to wait on the at the Australian Open for the (US) at 6am Doha Time old Spaniard failed to kick on their latest head to head at the other side of the net after he first time, has defeated the 4-Simona Halep (ROM) vs Garbine after those two Grand Slam ATP finals, it was 32-years- was knocked off by an out- American in four of their five Muguruza (ESP) at 7.30am Doha Time triumphs. Muguruza ended a old Djokovic that came out on While the Swiss (left) has won their latest head to head at the ATP finals, standing Dominic Thiem late previous meetings. wretched 2019 ranked 36 in top in their most recent en- it was 32-years-old Djokovic that came out on top in their most recent on Wednesday. Excitement is growing that States as the only American the world – the first time since counter in a slam, winning an encounter in a slam, winning an epic four-hour-and-57-minute Wimble- It will be either the 26-year- Barty can become the first left at the Australian Open. 2014 that she finished the year epic four-hour-and-57-minute don final in a fifth-set tiebreak after saving two match points. Overall, the old Austrian or 22-year-old Al- Australian winner since Chris Born in Moscow but a outside the top 20. Wimbledon final in a fifth- Serbian has won 26 of their previous 49 encounters since 2006, and the exander Zverev, both in their O’Neil in 1978. But the world fiercely proud American – her She spent the off-season set tiebreak after saving two Swiss 38-year-old only won three of the last 10 and none at the slams first Melbourne semi-final and number one and reigning racquet is in the colours of the climbing Mount Kilimanjaro match points. Overall, the Ser- since 2012 Wimbledon. Match at 11.30am Doha Time in search of their maiden title French Open champion is try- stars and stripes – Kenin is to clear her head of tennis and bian has won 26 of their previ- at the majors - with Thiem los- ing to ignore the hype. adamant she will not shrink reunited with coach Conchita ous 49 encounters since 2006, said of their recent results. very close calls. ing back-to-back French Open “I don’t pay attention to it, in the face of what will be vo- Martinez. and the Swiss 38-year-old only “But Roger is Roger. You Last week it took him over finals against Nadal. honestly. I’m here to try and cal home support for Barty. “I The results have been al- won three of the last 10 and know that he’s always going four hours and a tiebreak to “Reaching the final would do the best that I can,” she guess I could just say aggres- most immediate, defeating top- none at the slams since 2012 to play on such a high level ... defeat home hope John Mill- be the best day in my life,” said, after defeating Czech sev- sive, the fight in me,” she said, 10 seeds and Elina Wimbledon. He loves to play these kind of man in a thriller five-setter, Zverev said after oursting enth seed Petra Kvitova in the asked what her strengths are. Svitolina on the way to the “Wimbledon last year, he matches, big rivalries, semis, fighting from 8-4 down in a former champion Stan Waw- quarter-finals. Kenin defeated the 15-year- semi-finals, having started the had two match points, he was finals of Grand Slams.” The fifth-set match tiebreak. rinka in the quarters. “Obviously it’s exciting. old sensation Coco Gauff on tournament with a viral illness. one shot away from winning hype of the clash may not be On Tuesday, he looked as Thiem, who leads their se- Hopefully I can bring a smile the way to the last four. “I think the toughest mo- that match. It’s not like I’ve quite warranted, while Djoko- good as on a plane back home ries 6-2, said: “I think it’s the to a few faces around our coun- Romania’s Halep, defeated ment is when you work hard, been dominating the match- vic has dropped just one set in against unseeded Tennys Sand- first time that I am playing in try and around the world.” in the 2018 final by Caroline work like before, or even harder, ups. I’ve had success against the first round and has mostly gren as he faced seven match a Grand Slam semi-final and I Underdog Kenin, 21, is Wozniacki, is hitting top form and you don’t feel like results are him, as you said, in Grand sailed through to reach the points in the fourth set before am the older player, so it is a flying the flag for the United at the right moment. coming fast,” said Muguruza. Slams in particular,” Djokovic last eight, Federer has had two coming back to win the decider. new situation.”