Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova celebrates her victory over Russia’s Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in Melbourne, yesterday. (AFP)
Rafa Nadal came through his first proper test to storm into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Yesterday but Maria Sharapova was ushered to the exit after a second big shock in as many days in the women’s draw.
Victoria Azarenka was left as the only top-three seed still standing in the last eight when Sharapova was scratched from the title race by Dominika Cibulkova, a day after Serena Williams had also tumbled out in the fourth round.
In the men’s draw, the “Big Four” look poised to scrap it out for yet another Grand Slam crown over the next week after Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray all won on yesterday to join Novak Djokovic in the last eight.
Spaniard Nadal led the way with a 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Japan’s Kei Nishikori on Rod Laver Arena that was by no means as easy as the phrase “straight sets” would suggest. The world number one had to contend with a blister on his hand, a tumble, a time violation at a crucial moment and his first losses of his serve in the tournament but most of all with some inspired shot-making from the Asian number one.
“I didn’t play bad today, but I didn’t play as good as I did two days ago,” Nadal said, reflecting on his brilliant performance in the third round against Gael Monfils. “But today’s victory has much more value than the victory of two days ago. Because when you are playing that good, the normal thing is to win. When you are playing normal and the opponent is a good one, and you are able to keep winning, that has much more value.”
Federer vs Murray in quarters
While Nadal will meet Sharapova’s boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the semi-finals, Federer and Murray’s quarter-final date ensures that at least one of the quartet of dominant men’s players will go home on Wednesday. Federer’s quickfire 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was the most impressive of the day, particularly given the French 10th seed had taken him to five sets in Melbourne and beaten him at Roland Garros last year.
“I definitely felt momentum was on my side, no doubt,” said the Swiss 17-times Grand Slam champion. “I started the match well. Did I break first game? I think I did. I felt, alright, things are working for me tonight. Let me try to run away with it.”
Murray also looked to be racing to victory against Stephane Robert, the first lucky loser to reach the fourth round in Melbourne, but blew a couple of match points in the third set and was dragged into a tiebreak, which the Frenchman won 8-6. The Wimbledon champion took out his frustrations on his a racket, changed his shirt and then whipped through the fourth set to record a 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-2 victory. “I dominated 95 percent of the match, and for 15 minutes didn’t close the match out,” said the fourth seed. “But I still created chances, even when I wasn’t playing so well at the end of that third set. So it was pretty good for the most part.”
Like Murray, Sharapova missed the back end of last season because of injury and she admitted after her 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Cibulkova that the tournament had probably come a little bit early for her. “I certainly would have loved to played a little bit more before playing a Grand Slam, but this is the chance that I was given,” said the Russian third seed, the 2008 champion here. “It’s tough. I will be genuine about it. It’s never easy (but) it’s moments like this that ultimately shape you and make you who you are.”
“Chips and Salsa”
Azarenka was utterly dominant as she swept into the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over American Sloane Stephens that extended her winning streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches. The win had none of the edge of last year’s semi-final between the pair, when Azarenka took a medical timeout after blowing five match points.
Both Azarenka and Stephens had played down the controversy and the second seeded Belarusian said she could not have felt more at home on the same Rod Laver Arena where she was booed last year. “I just love playing here,” she said. “It feels so cosy. It feels like I’m in my living room, on my couch. I can have some chips and salsa - that’s how it feels.”
Next up for Azarenka is fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat rising Spanish talent Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-3 in the final match of the day. Cibulkova’s reward for beating Sharapova is a meeting with Simona Halep, who beat eighth seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-0 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final. Dimitrov, also entering unknown territory in the second week of a Grand Slam, beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4 to set up his last eight date with Nadal.
Results
4th round (x denotes seeding):
Men’s singles: Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x22) bt Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Kei Nishikori (JPN x16) 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) Andy Murray (GBR x4) bt Stephane Robert (FRA) 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2 Roger Federer (SUI x6) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x10) 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Women’s singles: Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x20) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x3) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1; Simona Halep (ROM x11) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB x8) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0; Victoria Azarenka (BLR x2) bt Sloane Stephens (USA x13) 6-3, 6-2; Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x5) bt Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 6-1, 6-3
Quarter-final line-ups
Men: Playing Tuesday: Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) v Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x8); David Ferrer (ESP x3) v Tomas Berdych (CZE x7)
Playing Wednesday: Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) v Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x22); Andy Murray (GBR x4) v Roger Federer (SUI x6)
Women
Playing Tuesday: Ana Ivanovic (SRB x14) v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN); Li Na (CHN x4) v Flavia Pennetta (ITA x28)
Playing Wednesday: Simona Halep (ROU x11) v Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x20); Victoria Azarenka (BLR x2) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x5)