Azarenka and Sharapova to meet in Aussie Final

Victoria Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam final, by coming through her 3 set match against Australian favourite Kim Clijsters, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.  A nervous looking Clijsters could not take her chances in the first set and was dominated by Azarenka.  However she fought her way back in the second set hitting huge ground strokes to secure a break in just the second game.  In the final set momentum swung as both players struggled with their nerves as they both lost their service games.  But Azarenka kept her cool and won the match with a smash winner.  Kim Clijsters walked off court to affectionate applause to what could be her last appearance on the Rod Laver Arena. 

Victoria Azarenka will be joined by the Russian Maria Sharapova in the final after she defeated Petra Kvitova in another three set victory, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.  After losing the first set Kvitova relaxed in the second putting constant pressure on her opponent making fantastic winners.  The Czech also had lots of opportunities to take the final set due to Sharapova being 15-40 or love-30 on her serve but could not take them thanks to the Russian being able to find her first serve when it mattered.   

Rafael Nadal came from behind in what was an eagerly awaited semi-final clash against Roger Federer.  Federer made the better start cruising into a 3-0 lead, taking the ball early and hitting some unbelievable winners.  But Nadal battled back with some more super shot making, but went onto lose the first set on a tiebreak.  Nadal then stormed through the next set but looked a bit nervous in the third with them both making unusual errors.  This ultimately led to Federer’s demise as Nadal was able to get through this and continue to make fabulous winners to take the match, 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-4.  He will now face either Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray in the final.   

Supreme performance seals semi final place for Rafa

Through to the semi finals in the men’s draw is Roger Federer who beat Del Potro 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.  Federer put in an excellent performance to see off the Argentinean making sensational winners.  He will now face Rafael Nadal who also put in a supreme performance to beat Tomas Berdych 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3.  His forehand was impressive as he out powered the Czech hitting some untouchable returns sealing the match at the 1^st time of asking after 4hours and 16 minutes on court.      

Azarenka had her toughest test so far against Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in their quarter final match.  Radwanska won the first set in a tie break winning it 7-0, but Azarenka fought her way back, shouting and screaming herself through the games to take the next two sets, closing out the match, 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-2.  Azarenka who has not been a favourite with the Aussie crowed due to her screeching will now play Kim Clijsters who is affectionately known as Aussie Kim due to her engagement to Lleyton Hewitt.  The Belgium beat the world number one Caroline Wozniacki in another tough match winning, 6-3, 7-6(4); the defending champion was in stunning form as she battled past Wozniacki who also produced some fantastic points.  But her wait for a grand slam lives on.

Federer and Clijsters through to Quarters

When Roger Federer was 19 years of age, the up and coming player, he had to face Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, he won.  Now there is a new kid on the block, Bernard Tomic, the story of this year’s Australian Open, it was questioned whether history was going to repeat itself, but there was no such luck for the home favourite as he succumbed to the class that is Roger Federer, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.  Federer used his drop shot superbly and Tomic could not come up with an answer to Federer’s skill and expertise this time round.  Del Potro will be Federer’s next opponent as he dispatched Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 as he continued his quest to get back to the form that won him the US Open in 2009. 

Nadal also had an easy way through to the quarters against fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.  He will now play Tomas Berdych who had an epic encounter against Nicolas Almagro, winning 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in what was a thrilling match which saw the Czech hold his nerve far better than his opponent.   

Agnieszka Radwanska won her 4^th round match incredibly easily against Julia Gorges 6-1, 6-1 in 54 minutes with the German only winning 22points.  Her opponent will now be Victoria Azarenka who again stormed through her match making light work of her opponent winning 6-2, 6-2. 

Wozniacki at Wimbledon

Things were a lot tighter in the match between Kim Clijsters and Li Na.  After Clijsters fell over on her ankle in the first set which saw have to have an injury time out she managed to fight back to gain a 3 set win, 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-4.  Li Na had four match points in the second set tiebreak but squandered them all and the Belgian took the match in what was a repeat of last year’s final.  Clijsters now plays Caroline Wozniacki in what was a very nervy second set, but she managed to come through it with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Jelena Jankovic.