SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2019 16

Stosur, win Aus Open women’s Blockbuster doubles title Djokovic thrashes Lucas Pouille to set up Nadal final

AGP | Melbourne, Australia nament, and I wish him all the epic battle 7-5 in the fifth set Djokovic, a picture of precision best for the rest of the season,” after 5hr 53min. on serve and return, would not ovak Djokovic yesterday he added. Djokovic, in his 34th Grand allow him any chance to get continued his quest for Djokovic lost in the fourth Slam semi-final, took just 83 back into the match. Na record seventh Aus- round last year, followed by el- minutes to outclass his regular Nadal holds a 4-3 tralian Open crown by swatting bow surgery and poor form practice partner Pouille, who win-loss record aside French 28th seed Lucas until he won Wim- was appearing in his first. against Djokovic in Pouille 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a bledon and turned Grand Slam finals, final against . his season around. Total control including all three It was a flawless display on “It was highly The 14-time Grand Slam title meetings since their Rod Laver Arena by the world unlikely 12 months winner was fresh because quar- Melbourne Park mar- Stosur (L) and celebrate with the championship trophy number one who moves into ago that I would be ter-final opponent Kei Nishikori athon seven years ago. a first Melbourne decider where I am today, a had quit after 51 minutes and A win for Nadal will see Melbourne, Australia champions -- 6-3, 6-4 on Rod since 2016. year later,” said the he jumped all over the world him become the first play- Laver Arena. “It is definitely one Serbian top seed. number 31 right from the start. er in the Open era to win nseeded pair “Today, it is a dream true for of the best matches “But I’ve said it Djokovic was in total control all four Grand Slam titles USamantha Sto- me,” said Zhang, who won her I’ve ever had on before, and I always against the Frenchman who had twice, while victory for sur and Zhang Shuai first Grand Slam doubles title. this court, defi- have plenty of be- needed more than three hours Djokovic will take him took out the Aus - Stosur added: “Shuai, it is nitely,” said lief in myself, and I to see off Milos Raonic. clear of six-time Mel- tralian Open wom- always a pleasure being on Djokovic, think the self-belief The Serb ran Pouille ragged bourne winners Roger en’s doubles title court with you, we have a who hit 24 is something that al- so effectively that he dished out Federer and Roy Emer- yesterday to be great friendship.” It was their winners ways prevails.” a dreaded 6-0 “bagel” in a first son. crowned Grand maiden Slam crown as a team, and had Djokovic will face set that lasted just 21 minutes. Slam champions although Stosur had previous- just five un- second seed Nadal in Pouille held his first service at Melbourne ly won the 2005 US Open and forced errors a 53rd career meet- game of the second set to a huge Park for the first 2006 in a part- “You know, ing and eighth in the ovation from the centre court time. nership with everything final of a Slam. fans, but it was a brief respite as The Australi - that earned them 20 titles al- worked the way In 2012 the pair an-Chinese combi- together. I imagined it be- contested the long- Scoreboard nation battled past En route to the title, Sto - fore the match est Grand Slam fi- Hungarian-French sur and Zhang knocked out and even more so. nal in terms of time (SRB x2) second seeds reigning French Open and “Tough one for at the Australian 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 Timea Babos and Wimbledon champions Barb- Lucas, but he had a Open when Djok- bt Lucas Poiulle (FRA x28) Kristina Mlade- ora Krejcikova and Katerina great tour- Nadal ovic edged an Djokovic novic -- last year’s Siniakova.