MELBOURNE (Reuters) – An Australian Open that started with an unprecedented saga involving reigning champion Novak Djokovic will end with a historic flourish on Sunday with all 4 men’s semi-finalists having the probability to jot down their names into the file books.
Should 2009 champion Rafa Nadal win the Australian Open for a second time the Spaniard will develop into the first man to assert 21 Grand Slam titles, nosing forward of nice rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The 35-year-old has stated he’s extra motivated by the love of enjoying than ending forward of Djokovic and Federer.
“I do not imagine that my happiness, my future happiness, is (going to) rely upon if I obtain another Grand Slam than the others or if the others obtain extra Grand Slams than me,” he stated after his quarter-final win on Tuesday.
Matteo Berrettini, who will play Nadal in the first semi-final on Friday, is in search of to develop into the first Italian to win the Australian Open.
“I wish to assume that I’m writing a little bit bit (of) Italian tennis historical past. We are an incredible nation for tennis,” he stated.
Daniil Medvedev can develop into the first man in the Open period to win a second main instantly after claiming his first following his 2021 U.S. Open success.
“If it is true, then it is going to be historical past. It’s excellent,” the Russian stated.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will face Medvedev in Friday’s different last-four conflict, would develop into the first Greek to win a Grand Slam ought to he carry the trophy.
“I’m headed in direction of the proper path and issues look good for me up to now,” Tsitsipas, the youngest of the 4 semi-finalists at 23, stated. “And, properly, with the proper mindset and with the proper perspective and with the proper improvement all through the match, my chances are high fairly good.”
DJOKOVIC DRAMA
The drama surrounding Djokovic’s deportation from Australia on the eve of the match has not been forgotten.
When Medvedev talked about he had channelled the warrior spirit of Djokovic after overturning a two-set deficit in opposition to Felix Auger-Aliassime, he was booed by some followers.
Australian Open match director Craig Tiley has additionally been jeered at any time when he appeared on courtroom throughout the match.
But the high quality of the final 4 males standing is great, with every both having lifted a Grand Slam title or made it to the last since Nadal’s 2020 French Open win.
The Spaniard and Berrettini have met solely as soon as, with Nadal proving too robust in a semi-final of the U.S. Open in 2019 throughout his run to the title.
Berrettini stated the sixth seed had been an inspiration to him for greater than a decade however is assured he could be crushed.
“I do know I can do it. It’s going (to) be a extremely powerful one,” the 2021 Wimbledon finalist stated.
Tsitsipas, a runner-up at Roland Garros final yr, and Medvedev have had their variations however turned nearer as crew mates for Europe at the Laver Cup final September.
The Russian defeated Tsitsipas in straight-sets in final yr’s Melbourne Park semi-finals.
(Reporting by Courtney Walsh; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
