26 January,2023 11:03 AM IST | Melbourne | AFP
Novak Djokovic
Unseeded Magda Linette marched into her first Grand Slam semi-final on Wednesday and said it was a "dream come true" after stunning former World No.1 Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 at the Australian Open.
Linette continued flying the flag for Poland after the shock exit of World No.1 Iga Swiatek, taking 1hr 27min to set up a clash with Aryna Sabalenka for a place in Saturday's final. "I'm so emotional, I can't really believe it," Linette said after the biggest win of her career.
"It's a dream come true. I'm super grateful and happy. Thank you for cheering and supporting, I really needed this. So we keep going. I don't want to get too excited because we are still in the tournament," added the World No.45, who will break into the top 30 for the first time.
Sabalenka reached her maiden Australian Open semi-final with a battling 6-3, 6-2 victory over unseeded Donna Vekic on Wednesday at Rod Laver Arena in a 1hr 49min tussle. "It feels really special to be in the semi-finals here, it was a tough match," said Sabalenka, competing in her first Australian Open quarter-final.
Magda Linette celebrates win over Karolina Pliskova yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic delivered a masterclass Wednesday to race into the Australian Open semi-finals and edge closer to a 22nd Grand Slam title with a straight-sets thrashing of Andrey Rublev.
Also read: It was an incredible battle: Novak Djokovic
The Serbian was in the zone to blitz past the Russian 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena and meets Tommy Paul for a place in Sunday's final. The unseeded American Paul defeated countryman Ben Shelton 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. "I cannot be happier with my tennis, honestly," said Djokovic, after reaching a 10th semi-final at Melbourne Park. Only Roger Federer (15) and Jack Crawford (11) have been there more often. "I've been playing very solid from the back of the court and I really love playing in these conditions and this court," the 35-year-old told Rod Laver Arena. "Some really close games that we had," he added.
Meanwhile, Tommy Paul edged countryman Ben Shelton to make a maiden Grand Slam semi-final Wednesday and put an American man into the Last Four of the Australian Open for the first time since 2009. In a clash between two unseeded players, Paul used his greater experience to grind down the 20-year-old 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in a battle of attrition on Rod Laver Arena.
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