The performance should not be overlooked. If Aslan Karatsev was still a virtual unknown in 2020, beating him 6-3, 6-0 in 2021 is almost a feat. Sebastian Korda managed to do just that in the previous round, ending the Russian's streak of 15 straight wins against players ranked beyond the TOP 5 - the world No. 27 only failed to beat Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem this year.[......]
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After eight consecutive tournaments in which he did not do better than semi-finalist, Stefanos Tsitsipas will try to reach the final for the first time since last September (in Hamburg). After a mixed indoor tour where he was rarely in control but always combative, the Greek arrived in Mexico as a tournament favourite.[......]
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For the first time since 1990, a player reaches the semi-finals of a tournament without playing a single match, bravo Andrey! Exempted from the first round because of his status as the number 3 seed, the Russian took advantage of the withdrawal of Richard Gasquet, who is still visibly bothered by his foot injury.[......]
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Garbine Muguruza was the only one to worry Osaka at the Australian Open by getting match balls. On this tournament in Doha, her attacking tennis continues to work wonders. She defeated Kudermetova, Sabalenka after a great match and Maria Sakkari in two small sets. The Spaniard can rely on an excellent serve whose trajectory is hard to read and very difficult to break.[......]
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Nice French-French duel in perspective! A duel also of generations since the two tricolours are a little more than 11 years apart. Experience or recklessness, who will win? On the form of the moment, small advantage to Clara Burel, who has accumulated more victories and confidence since the beginning of the year.
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First confrontation on the professional circuit between Marin Cilic and Alexei Popyrin. At the start, it was another Australian who was expected in the last four of this low part of the table, in this case John Millman, seeded N°2. But Millman failed in the quarter-finals against his compatriot Matthew Ebden, who was dominated by another Australian, Popyrin.
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After almost a year without playing in a tournament (apart from a match in Rome), Switzerland's Belinda Bencic is back in the final of a WTA tournament for the first time from Moscow at the end of October 2019. In this duel, she will take on Poland's Iga Swiatek, a new nugget on the circuit since her first title at Roland Garros.[......]
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Mission accomplished for the Frenchman who will be well on his way to the quarter-finals after a victory in two sets against Roberto Marcora (6-3, 7-5). He has made a serious match, in line with his performances since last autumn, to take the match on his own and push the Italian to the fault.
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Face to face the two best players in the world on hard at the moment. This final will offer the much-awaited showdown, which will lead to an almost natural outcome, namely a 9th title for Djokovic in Melbourne, or an unprecedented winner, the first Grand Slam title in the career of Daniil Medvedev.
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In spite of the complicated conditions surrounding this Australian Open and the players who didn't have an equal preparation, the women's hierarchy settles down on the hard surface with three semi-finalists already present at the US Open. In the final, Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady will be the next ones to beat Serena Williams and Karolina Muchova.[......]
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Eddy Murphy and Dan Aykroyd would appreciate the wink, but not sure if the atmosphere on the court tomorrow morning will turn to burlesque comedy. Whereas the first semi-final has reserved us a more than unexpected guest in the person of Aslan Karatsev, we will have in this second one a more classic duel between two of the greatest leaders of the new generation who will fight to challenge Novak Djokovic in the final.[......]
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The entire tennis microcosm agrees that Aslan Karatsev made tennis history by becoming the first player from the qualifiers to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for his first appearance. He will face one of the three greatest legends of the sport, Novak Djokovic and his 8 titles in Australia! The Serb has always won the Australian Open when he reached the last four.
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How spoiled we are for these quarter-finals! That's a nice way to end this presentation of the posters leading to the last four. Two years ago, with his soul in pain and disappointed to have seen his hopes of a first Grand Slam final vanish against Nadal (6-2, 6-4, 6-0), Stefanos Tsistipas tasted the intensity of the matches against the Big 3 in Major.[......]
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Wouldn't it be the perfect moment for Zverev to show the tennis world that he has indeed passed a Grand Slam milestone and that he is now capable of titilating the greatest? Probably. And faced with a Novak who is obviously not at 100% of his means, there should be some space.
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We were all expecting a big battle between Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of this Australian Open, well, at least one of them won't take part in the last four. Totally dominated by Grigor Dimitrov in the 8th final, the Austrian left Melbourne through the small door.
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