Page 17 - atoday

SPORTS A17
Wednesday 27 January 2016

Courting
Repeat

Serena Williams of the United States plays a forehand return to Maria Sharapova of Russia during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships
in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Williams beat Sharapova 6-4, 6-1.

(AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)

Williams beats Sharapova; Djokovic, Federer to meet in semis

JOHN PYE victory on Tuesday. Australia. The tiebreaker will be tricky. times against each other,”
AP Sports Writer Djokovic lost only one of his Djokovic said. “There’s a
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Williams said she wasn’t Federer reached his 12th 28 Grand Slam matches in lot of tension. There’s a lot
— Serena Williams has nev- 2015 — to Stan Wawrinka at stake. I’m expecting a
er lost in the semifinals of aware that she had won Australian Open semifinal, in the French Open final — great fight in two days.”
the Australian Open. Nei- and has won 37 of his last In the women’s semifinals,
ther has Novak Djokovic. the Australian Open all six and 39th in a Grand Slam 38 matches at Melbourne Williams will be facing
A key difference between Park, a run that includes fourth-seeded Agnieszka
the defending champions previous times she won her event, with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, four titles. He beat Federer Radwanska, who beat No.
is that Williams beat the in the Wimbledon and U.S. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro
most-experienced and quarterfinal match, “but 6-4 win over No. 6 Tomas Open finals last year, but 6-1, 6-3. Radwanska has
highest-ranked challenger Federer was back con- won one of her previous
in her half of the draw when that’s good.” Berdych. He hasn’t gone tending for titles. four semifinals at a major,
she extended her streak “Any round feels like finals but never won a Grand
to 18 consecutive wins “It’s not a stat that’s set in past the semifinals at Mel- because of the fact that Slam title.
against Maria Sharapova we are, you know, big ri-
with a 6-4, 6-1 quarterfinal stone,” Williams said. “I still bourne Park since winning vals, we played so many Continued on Page 20

have to win two matches.” the title in 2010, but he’s a

Five-time champion serious obstacle for Djokov-

Djokovic, after beating No. ic.

7 Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, They’re 22-all in career

still has a daunting semifi- head-to-heads, with

nal match against Roger Djokovic catching up since

Federer, who has won four usurping Federer in the

of his 17 Grand Slam titles in rankings.