Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and the Latest Australian Open Winners and Losers
The 2011 Australian Open is beginning to wrap up as quarterfinal matches are being played. The also-rans have been weeded out, and we are left with the top players in the game still looking to win the Open. Among those names that played in Australia today were Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva.
Now that the matches are over, who is advancing to the semifinals? Were there any major upsets? What are the matches that will be played tomorrow, and could any upsets occur there? Find out here as the latest winners and losers of the Australian Open are looked at.
Women's Singles Quarterfinals: Vera Zvonareva Def. Petra Kvitova
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In one of the earlier Australian Open quarterfinal matches, second-ranked Vera Zvonareva went up against 25th-ranked Petra Kvitova. It was Zvonareva's first match against someone ranked in the top 30.
While it was her toughest competition yet, Zvonareva had no problems in the match, winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Who will she face in the semifinals? It will be a rematch for her as she faces...
Women's Singles Quarterfinals: Kim Clijsters Def. Agnieszka Radwanska
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Kim Clijsters has had an easy tournament so far, having not lost a set yet, though she has had to win a couple tiebreakers. The third-ranked player was facing her toughest competition yet though in 12th-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska.
It ended up being another easy win for Clijsters, 6-3, 7-6. She is now set up for a rematch of the 2010 U.S. Open against Vera Zvonareva in what should be a hard-fought matchup.
Men's Singles Quarterfinals: Andy Murray Def. Aleksandr Dolgopolov
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Aleksandr Dolgopolov was having a very good Australian Open, going further than he's ever gone in a tournament. He was also the only unranked player left in the fold. However, in a quarterfinal matchup with Andy Murray, that run came to an end.
In what was fifth-ranked Murray's hardest matchup so far, he lost his first set of the tournament, but won the match 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3. Will this matchup be the coming-out party for Dolgopolov in the end, or will Murray use this matchup to win the Open? It depends; he's facing Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, right?
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Men's Singles Quarterfinals: David Ferrer Def. Rafael Nadal
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Nope. Rafael Nadal was crushing everyone he faced, and looked to be on the fast track to an Australian Open win. Instead, he was victim to the tournament's biggest upset yet, as seventh-ranked David Ferrer beat the top player in straight sets.
Yes, Rafael Nadal lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to be exact. This was Nadal's second straight quarterfinal loss in the Australian Open after retiring last year against Andy Murray. This ends his quest for a straight Grand Slam.
Nonetheless, this might be Ferrer's opportunity to win it all, as he could be one of the best tennis players to have not won a Grand Slam tournament (which isn't as bad as it sounds when you play alongside Federer and Nadal).
Men's Doubles Quarterfinals: Bhupati/Paes Def. Llondra/Zimonjic
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While there are big upsets on the men's singles front, doubles is going as planned, with top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the semifinals, watching the second and third seeds. Mahesh Bhupati and Leander Paes, ranked third, faced eight-ranked Michael Llondra and Nenad Zimonjic.
The Indian duo won 6-4, 6-4. Who do they face in the semis?
Men's Doubles Quarterfinals: Mirnyi/Nestor Def. Fyrstenberg/Matkowski
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The second-seed duo of Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Daniel Nestor of Canada were slated to face fifth-ranked Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski. They continue to show no real issues as they won the match 7-6, 6-3.
The doubles match between Mirnyi/Nestor and Bhupathi/Paes should be a very competitive one that you know the Bryans will be watching closely.
Women's Doubles Semifinals: Dulko/Pennetta Def. Huber/Petrova
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Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta have been breezing through the doubles tournament as the top-ranked team, and the semifinals matchup was no exception. They beat the third-ranked team of Liezel Huber and Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 7-5. They remain undefeated in set play, though this was the first match where they needed seven games to win a set. They meet in the finals against:
Women's Doubles Semifinals: Azarenka/Kirilenko Def. Peschke/Srebotnik
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In an upset, the 12th-ranked team of Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko defeated the second-ranked team of Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik, 6-2, 6-4. While Kirilenko hasn't been able to do much on the singles end, she is fast becoming one of the top doubles players in the game, and not just in women's doubles.
Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals
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With Liezel Huber and Bob Bryan out of the mixed doubles tournament, it opened it up for many teams to try and get in. The second-ranked team is playing a quarterfinals match today, but third-ranked Maria Kirilenko and Nenad Zimonjoc were the first duo to advance to the semis, defeating Meghann Shaugnessy and Andy Ram, 6-1, 7-6.
The second team to advance to the semis was the unranked team of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau, who beat Sally Peers and Carsten Ball in their quarterfinal matchup, 7-5, 6-4.
Today's Matchups
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Three of the four singles semifinals matchups will be played today. Caroline Wozniacki will face Li Na, and upon the completion of that Kim Clijsters will face Vera Zvonareva. After those two matches wrap up, Novak Djokovic will face Roger Federer. Ferrer and Murray get to have the day off before their matchup.
Both men's doubles semifinals matchups will also take place, though the women have the day off. Bob and Mike Bryan will face Eric Butorac and Jean-Julien Rojer, and Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes will face Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor.
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