The quarter-finals of the Australian Open are history. And some players made their own history during them. Radwanska made her first semi-final in Melbourne, Federer made his 11th consecutive one, Cibulkova made her second slam semi and Rafael Nadal ended the efforts of the first Bulgarian to make a Major last eight. The tennis review rounds up a day of dominance, brilliance, beauty and at times the downright ugly. But it was never less than fascinating. Never.
Roger Federer beats A. Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-3
For two sets Roger Federer played his very best tennis and then some. Stefan Edberg looking on must have felt at times he was watching an artist imitating him on the stage as Federer won 20 of 28 points played at the net. And then in the third set, Federer just stopped. And Murray started up, no doubt pleased to see Federer hanging at the back of the court, rallying balls back, even when serving for the match at 5-4 and holding match points in the third set breaker. Murray took full advantage. Until then he had been struggling with his game, forced into errors as he tried to match Federer’s aggression, but now, with a passive Federer to toy with, he hit deep, hit short, changed direction and found the open courts. Free to grind, he did, and he worked his way back into the match, cutting the deficit from 0-2 in sets to 1-2. The effort tired him out through. As did the 20 minutes service game he won at the start of the fourth. Federer pounced on the sudden drop in Murray energy levels, not pouncing like the cat who had taken up home at the net for the first two sets, but coming in now and then, just enough to push Murray over and take control of the match. Federer broke and held serve and won the match. It was a match that started out in absolute brilliance and ended in a horror show of the kind faster courts have been brought in to stamp out. And stamped out is what Federer will be by Nadal if he brings anything less than his play of the two sets to their semi-final on Friday.
D. Cibulkova beats S.Halep 6-3, 6-0
Dominika Cibulkova did herself the best favor she could have in dismissing Simona Halep in an hour: conserving valuable energy for her next round against Radwanska. Getting 77% of her first serves in and hitting 17 winners to 16 errors certainly helped her cause. Halep tried to find answers in the first set but Cibulkova was too much for her. One sniff of a short ball and Cibulkova was all over it. Clearly energized by her fine play and the occasion, Cibulkova showed us all why she has made the quarters of every slam.
Nadal beats Dimitrov 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), 6-2
It took Nadal a while to shake off the young Bulgarian in this tight four setter. The Bulgarian took Nadal by surprise, breaking him early in the first set, and then holding serve to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulgarian’s aggressive minded play and strong serve helped him stand up to Nadal’s forehand and speed all the way to the second set breaker. There, the Bulgarian faltered while Nadal just got stronger and dominated the breaker. Nadal went on to break Dimitrov in the third but the Bulgarian broke back and took Nadal all the way to the breaker. A set point soon belonged to Dimitrov, and a sitting forehand begged him to take a 2 sets to 1 lead, but, the occasion getting to his inexperience, he missed it. That was all Nadal needed to make his move, taking the breaker and a 2-1 lead and then breaking Dimitrov early in the fourth. The pressure off a little, Nadal’s tore through the set, breaking Dimitrov in the final game to win the match. Another challenge from the next generation withstood, Nadal goes into his semi-final tried and tested and full of confidence.
A. Radwanska beats V. Azarenka 6-1, 5-7, 6-0
The third set Radwanska played in this quarter-final match is perhaps one of the best sets any woman has ever played on Rod Laver. And Rod would have been only to happy to have been danced upon, to have had volleys punched by a ballerina mid court, to have lobs and drop shots floated around all over him. Vika Azarenka, however, was anything less than pleased to be on the receiving end of such brilliance. Her frequent screams were of a woman not used to not getting her way at a slam she has an 18 match winning streak at. Radwanska though could not have cared less. She had twenty years of tennis experience to put to use and the way she took Azarenka apart with such precision, guile and heart will linger in the memories of tennis fans the world over for a while. Check out this video of one point to get the idea. And, if you have time, go down a Radwanska rabbit hole to get to her very unique wonderland.
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