AFP/Melbourne


Stan Wawrinka said he was “mentally completely dead” after bowing out in five sets to Novak Djokovic to end his Australian Open title defence in the semi-final yesterday.
The Swiss fourth seed had his moments during the intense 3hr 30min match on Rod Laver Arena but it was the Serb world number one progressing to tomorrow’s final against Andy Murray after winning 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
 “I’m really happy with my level. It was mentally that I think I’m paying for the price to finish off the season with Davis Cup and not having a bigger off-season,” he said.
“I was trying to focus really well to start the year well with winning Chennai and being here trying to do the best.
“I told my coach before the match that I was mentally completely dead and had no battery.
“It was tough to focus on what I want to do. Tough to focus on my game. And that’s what happened today.”
Wawrinka said the match was not top quality, compared to sixth seed Murray excelling in beating seventh seed Tomas Berdych in the other semi-final on Thursday.
The Swiss upset Djokovic in last year’s quarter-finals on the way to winning the Australian Open for his first major title, but Friday’s match was nowhere near that standard.
“Describe the match? Strange. Not the best, for sure. I think there were a lot of ups and downs,” he said.
“At the beginning conditions weren’t too good. The balls were flying about and were not easy to control. It was not the best match, for sure.
“I’m surprised we went five sets again, but, no, we had some great battles here last two years. He was there playing good enough to win and he deserved to win and play the final.”
Wawrinka, sporting a ‘Stan the Man’ shirt, said he was planning to take a week’s break before his next tournament and had adjusted his playing schedule this year to allow for more rest and practice.
“I think I have a good schedule for the year. I will try to have some moments when I can practice with my coach and fitness trainer, when I can have some holiday,” he said.
“So it should be fine for the year again. I think it’s about the right schedule for the year.”
Melbourne: The unseeded pairing of American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Czech Lucie Safarova won the Australian Open women’s doubles title yesterday, their first Grand Slam success.
The two were playing together in Melbourne for the first time and clicked immediately, downing the 14th seeded Zheng Jie of China and Taiwan’s Chan Yung-Jan 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
“I mean, our name is carved on this trophy. It’s pretty cool,” said a delighted Mattek-Sands, who slipped to 258 in the singles rankings after injuring her hip last year.
“This trophy at least started in 1922, I think. It’s got a lot of great names on there. We get to add ours now.”
They beat five seeds to clinch the title and in doing so became the first unseeded women’s duo to claim the Australian crown since Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva in 2012.
They were also the first new pairing to win a women’s Grand Slam title since Dinara Safina and Nathalie Dechy at the US Open in 2007.
Safarova said they got together after her coach and Mattek-Sands’ husband, who are good friends, suggested they give it a go.
They had no doubles practice together before they went on court for their first round match, but clicked with good communication the key to their successful partnership.
“It’s hard to describe the feelings. It’s like such a huge happiness, because to be a Grand Slam champion, it’s just the best that you can have,” said the Czech.
“I really enjoyed the whole two weeks. It’s a boost of confidence for future doubles and singles. I think we played amazing matches here.”





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