Professional Tennis
Rafael Nadal outlasted Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-4 in an epic Australian Open semifinal that spanned nearly five hours, setting up a dream matchup against Roger Federer in the year’s first Grand Slam final. “For me it’s a privilege and I think it’s a very special thing for both of us to be…
Roger Federer advanced to the sixth Australian open final of his career on Thursday, holding off a late surge from fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka for the 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3 victory. Both players were dominant on serve in the opening set until 6-5, when Federer recorded the only break of the set and won…
At the Australian Open in 1998, Serena and Venus Williams played against one another for the first time. Both were teenagers at the time and it was the elder Venus who won the match in straight sets. Now, 19 years later, the two will meet in the Australian Open final, the first all-Williams title match…
Rafael Nadal defeated Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7) 6-4 on Wednesday to reach the Australian Open semifinals, his first major semifinal since the 2014 French Open. “It is good news—especially beating difficult players: Monfils, Zverev and now Raonic. I think all of them are top players,” said Nadal. “So that’s very important for me, because that…
Credit photo to Sidney Beal III Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams powered her way back into the semifinals on Wednesday, moving past ninth-seed Johanna Konta 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 15 minutes. Meeting for the first time, Serena came out of the gate firing and quickly established her hold on the match. She…
The first men’s singles semifinal at the Australian Open will pit two Swiss men against one another after Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka each won their respective quarterfinal matchups on Tuesday. Wawrinka was first up on Tuesday, and he defeated 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(3), 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 14 minutes. “It’s not…
The surprise run of American Coco Vandeweghe continued on Tuesday as the 35th ranked New York City-born Vandeweghe dismantled seventh-seed Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-0 to reach the Australian Open semifinals. “It’s amazing to be in a semifinal,” said Vandweghe. “But, you know, not satisfying. I want to keep going, keep playing. There’s more things to do…
Great Britain’s Johanna Konta won her fourth consecutive match in straight-sets on Monday, dispatching Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 6-4 to return to the Australian Open quarterfinals, and setting up a showdown with world number two Serena Williams. “I was really happy with the level I was able to bring from the very beginning,” said Konta….
Photo credit to Sidney Beal III Rafael Nadal advanced to the 30th Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career on Monday as the Spaniard held off sixth-seed Gael Monfils of France 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the final eight in Melbourne. Nadal secured the only break point of the opening set and won 76 percent…
Coco Vandeweghe moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time in her career, outlasting former semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on Friday. “It was kind of expected, in my mind, to get the win and to get the victory and to move a step closer to achieving what I…