Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Wednesday 24 January 2018

Australian Open

Continued from Page 18 on the schedule and the
proliferation of hardcourts
He will next play 49th- are concerns. Other play-
ranked Kyle Edmund, who ers have expressed similar
beat third-ranked Grigor views.
Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Last year’s Australian Open
reach a Grand Slam semifi- was one for the ages, with
nal for the first time. Roger Federer returning
“Tough moments —not from a six-month injury lay-
(for) the first time here,” off and beating Nadal in
Nadal said. “I’m a posi- five sets in the final, and Ser-
tive person, but today is an ena Williams beating her
opportunity lost to be in a sister, Venus, for the wom-
semifinal for a Grand Slam en’s title. Serena opted not
and fight for an important to defend her title, decid-
title for me. ing she hadn’t had enough
“It’s really tough to ac- time to recover from giving
cept.” birth to her first child in Sep-
Injuries to star players dom- tember. Venus Williams lost
inated headlines before in the first round.
the tournament. Five-time This year’s Australian Open
Australian Open finalist is shaping up more as one
Andy Murray withdrew so of discovery. On the wom-
he could have surgery on en’s side, Angelique Kerber
his hip. Nadal (right knee), was the only major cham-
six-time champion No- pion to reach the quarter- Belgium’s Elise Mertens makes a backhand return to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina during their quarterfinal
at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018.
vak Djokovic (right elbow) finals. No. 35-ranked Elise
and 2014 champion Stan Mertens upset fourth-seed- Associated Press
Wawrinka (left knee) left ed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 to in the semifinals. had had to retire during an cation and extent of the
their fitness decisions to the extend her winning streak Cilic against Edmund was Australian Open quarter- injury, which he could only
eve of the tournament — to 10 matches, becoming an unlikely pairing on the final — the previous time describe as being high on
it’s no surprise they are all the first Belgian since Kim top half of the men’s draw. was against Murray in 2010. his right leg but not in the
out of the tournament. Clijsters in 2012 to reach Edmund had never played He said he felt muscle pain hip.
There are limits to human the semifinals. in a major quarterfinal, had in his upper right leg in the Nadal had a delayed start
endurance, and Nadal Up next for her is second- never won five consecu- third set against Cilic but to the season because of
found his on Tuesday. ranked Caroline Wozni- tive matches at tour level, played through it. In the an injured right knee but
“Somebody who is running acki, who finished off a 6-0, had lost both of his previous fourth set, chasing a drop appeared to be in good
the tour should think (a) lit- 6-7 (3), 6-2 win over Carla matches against Dimitrov shot, he felt the pain get form through the first four
tle bit about what’s going Suarez Navarro after 1:30 and had never beaten a worse “but didn’t realize rounds. He now hasn’t won
on. Too many people get- a.m. Wozniacki, who is top-five player. how bad.” back-to-back Australian
ting injured,” said Nadal, still chasing her first Grand He checked all those box- He had an injury timeout at Open quarterfinal match-
who was still limping and Slam title, can also return es on Rod Laver Arena. 4-1 down in the fourth set, es since 2008 and ‘09, the
grimacing at a post-match to No. 1 for the first time in “I am loving it right now, just and another at the end of year he won his only Aus-
news conference. “I don’t six years depending on re- the way I’m playing,” Ed- the set. tralian title.
know if they have to think sults in Melbourne. mund said. “My first Grand After Cilic broke his serve, “Unbelievable perfor-
a little bit about the health The second-ranked Feder- Slam semifinal. First time I the 31-year-old Spaniard mance from both of us and
of the players. er is still in contention for his played on one of the big- went to shake hands with really unfortunate for Rafa,”
“I don’t know if we keep 20th major, with a quarterfi- gest courts in the world. the umpire and his oppo- said Cilic, who had only
playing in this very, very nal against Tomas Berdych To beat a quality of player nent, and angrily hurled his beaten Nadal once in their
hard surfaces what’s go- on Wednesday. On Feder- like Grigor. They’re great headband into his equip- previous six matches. “He’s
ing to happen in the future er’s side of the draw, 58th- feelings. So, yeah, I just try ment bag. such an unbelievable com-
with our lives.” ranked Hyeon Chung and to enjoy it as much as pos- Nadal said he would have petitor. He always gives his
Nadal said the timing and 97th-ranked Tennys Sand- sible.” Nadal left dejected. medical scans Wednesday best ... it’s very unfortunate
the number of tournaments gren are playing for a spot It was the second time he to determine the exact lo- for him to finish this way.”q