For the first time in 9 years, the Williams sisters will play in a grand slam final against each other. Serena’s run…
The Williams sisters will play their first slam final against each other since 2009 on Saturday. Both women breezed through…
| Australian Open 2017 |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne Dates: 16-29 January |
| Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; live text on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online |
World number nine Rafael Nadal says his rivalry with Roger Federer transcends tennis as they prepare to meet in Sunday’s Australian Open final.
Nadal and Federer both endured five-set matches in their semi-finals.
The Spaniard, 30, has won 23 of his 34 meetings with the 35-year-old Swiss, including an unforgettable victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
“People from outside our world talk about this, and that’s good for our sport,” said Nadal.
“The combination of two styles makes the matches really special,” he added.
The head-to-head history also favours Nadal by six wins to two in Grand Slam finals and three to zero at the Australian Open. But the 14-time Major winner says that Sunday’s final meeting will take their rivalry into new territory.
“That was a long time ago. It is a different match, a different moment for both of us. This match is completely different than what happened before,” Nadal added.
“I really don’t think about what happened in the past. I think the player who plays better is going to be the winner.”
Both Nadal and Federer ended their 2016 seasons early after suffering injuries.
A knee problem kept Federer out of action in the wake of his Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Milos Raonic, while Nadal was sidelined by a wrist injury that forced his withdrawal from the French Open.
Federer travelled to Nadal’s home town of Manacor in Majorca for the opening of his rival’s tennis academy in October.
“That was amazing. I have said hundreds of time, but I can’t stop saying thanks because it was very emotional for everybody,” recalled Nadal.
“In that moment, for sure, we never thought that we have the chance to be in a final again.”
On Friday the Spaniard beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in almost five hours to reach a first Grand Slam final since 2014.
While Federer was also extended over five sets in his semi-final, the Swiss will have had an extra day to recover from his win over countryman Stan Wawrinka.
Nadal was in a similar situation in 2009 when he recovered from a gruelling five-hour win over Fernando Verdasco in the last four to beat Federer in the final in Melbourne.
“That is what I am going to try. I did it in 2009, but I am eight years older,” Nadal said.
“It is true that if you play a match like I had today, probably you are at a disadvantage. But that’s a special situation. I cannot complain about that. I think it is good.
“But now is not the time to talk about that. It is time to be happy, very happy.”
Under the guidance of Andy Murray’s former coach Dani Vallverdu, Dimitrov has risen to number 15 in the world from 40th in July.
Having pushed Nadal all the way, he believes his Australian Open campaign is a strong base to build his season on.
“It’s never easy to lose a match like that. I’m happy, though, with a lot of things. I’m going to stay positive and keep my head up high.
“I’m competing great. Physically I’m getting there. Despite the disappointment, that’s going to feed me, I think, for the upcoming events.”
While refusing to predict the result, the Bulgarian said that Sunday’s final would be a “freakin’ amazing” match.
Rafael Nadal set up a much-anticipated Australian Open final against old rival Roger Federer with an epic, five-set semi-final win over Grigor Dimitrov.
| Australian Open women’s final |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: Saturday, 28 January Time: 08:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and live text on the BBC Sport website; TV highlights on BBC Two and online at 13:15. |
Serena Williams says facing elder sister Venus in Saturday’s Australian Open final will be a great occasion.
Serena, 35, is bidding for an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam, while Venus, 36, is targeting her eighth major, and first since Wimbledon in 2008.
“This probably is the moment of our careers so far,” said Serena, who has beaten Venus in six of their eight Grand Slam finals.
“I never lost hope of us being able to play each other in a final.”
Saturday will be their first Grand Slam final against each other since Wimbledon 2009, when Serena won in straight sets, and their 28th meeting in total.
“Nothing can break our family,” added Serena. “If anything, this will definitely bring us closer together, knowing that I want to see her do the best that she can possibly do.
“I know that she definitely wants to see me do the best that I can do. This is a story. This is something that I couldn’t write a better ending for. This is a great opportunity for us to start our new beginning.
“It’s the one time that I really genuinely feel like no matter what happens, I can’t lose, she can’t lose. It’s going to be a great situation.”
Serena drew level with Germany’s Steffi Graff on 22 Grand Slams when she claimed her seventh Wimbledon title last year, but lost in the US Open semi-finals to Czech Karolina Pliskova.
A seventh title at Melbourne Park would add further credit to her claim as the greatest of all time, despite being one short of Australia’s Margaret Court, whose 24 major titles were split between the amateur and professional eras.
Venus failed to reach a single Grand Slam quarter-final between 2011 and 2014 as she battled injuries and Sjogren’s syndrome, an auto-immune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain.
Now, however, Venus is enjoying a late resurgence, backing up her run to the last four at Wimbledon six months ago by going one step further here.
2001 – US Open – Venus Williams – 6-2 6-4
2002 – French Open – Serena Williams – 7-5 6-3
2002 – Wimbledon – Serena Williams – 7-6 (7-4) 6-3
2002 – US Open – Serena Williams – 6-4 6-3
2003 – Australian Open – Serena Williams – 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-4
2003 – Wimbledon – Serena Williams – 4-6 6-4 6-2
2008 – Wimbledon – Venus Williams – 7-5 6-4
2009 – Wimbledon – Serena Williams – 7-6 (7-3) 6-2
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| Australian Open men’s final |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: Sunday, 29 January Time: 08:30 GMT |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website; TV highlights from 13:00 GMT on BBC Two and online. |
Rafael Nadal set up a much-anticipated Australian Open final against old rival Roger Federer with an epic, five-set semi-final win over Grigor Dimitrov.
The Spaniard won 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in almost five hours to reach a first Grand Slam final since 2014.
Dimitrov’s wait to reach a maiden Slam final continues after Nadal, 30, inflicted his first defeat of the year.
Nadal, who is attempting to win a 15th major title, will face Swiss rival Federer, 35, in Melbourne on Sunday.
“I never dreamed to be back in the final of the Australian Open,” said Nadal.
“It is a very special thing for both of us to be playing again in a major final. Neither of us probably thought we would be here again.”
The ninth seed will meet Federer, who needed five sets to beat compatriot Stan Wawrinka in Thursday’s first semi-final, in Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena at 08:30 GMT.
As well as a day’s extra rest, 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer spent almost two hours less on court during his semi-final than Nadal, having beaten Wawrinka in a comparatively quick three hours and five minutes.
Both Nadal and Dimitrov showed incredible endurance in a match during which neither man looked like wilting.
Eventually the 25-year-old Bulgarian buckled first – losing his serve at 4-4 in the deciding set – as Nadal wrapped up victory with his third match point at almost 00:45 local time.
Nadal dropped to his knees at the baseline in celebration, bringing a charged Rod Laver Arena to its feet, when Dimitrov sent a forehand long.
His victory means all four singles finalists are aged 30 or over, with 35-year-old Serena Williams meeting sister Venus, 36, in the women’s final on Saturday.
Much of the talk before Friday’s second semi-final centred around the prospect of Nadal meeting Federer for the ninth time in a Grand Slam final.
The pair dominated the men’s game between 2004 and 2010, before Novak Djokovic’s emergence, and have provided many memorable duels over the past 13 years.
However, few would have suggested a fortnight ago they would be reunited in the first major final of 2017.
Federer is making his competitive return in Melbourne after six months out with a knee injury, while Nadal has also struggled with form and injury over the past couple of years.
But both men have disproved the notion the combination of ageing bodies and physical problems would prevent them from challenging again for major honours.
Nadal showed few signs of fatigue in his marathon win against Dimitrov, just as Federer did not when he overcame compatriot Wawrinka in Thursday’s semi-final.
Now they have been rewarded with their first Slam showpiece since the French Open in 2011.
Dimitrov received a standing ovation as he left the Rod Laver Arena, though it was probably scant consolation after failing to become the first Bulgarian to reach a major final.
Once dubbed ‘Baby Fed’ for his similarity in playing style to Federer, he showed enough against Nadal to suggest he will end that unwanted record soon.
However, it is difficult to pinpoint what more he could have done.
Dimitrov showed he has the tools needed to compete with the best players – thumping down 20 aces to Nadal’s eight, cracking 79 winners to Nadal’s 45 and showing extraordinary defensive resilience.
It was still too little against an inspired Nadal.
The Spaniard showed remarkable physical and mental strength to overcome Dimitrov and is now one win away from becoming the first man to win the double career Grand Slam in the Open era.
More to follow.
Relive some memorable points from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s famous 2008 Wimbledon final.
Britain’s Gordon Reid completed a career Grand Slam in the wheelchair men’s doubles by winning the Australian Open in a final-set tie-break.
Reid, alongside Belgian Joachim Gerard, won 6-3 3-6 1-0 (10-3) against fellow Briton Alfie Hewett and Gus Fernandez.
The Scot, 25, won Wimbledon last year alongside Hewett, after previously winning the US and French Open (twice).
There could be more British success in Melbourne after Andy Lapthorne reached the quad singles final.
Lapthorne, 26, will meet Australia’s Dylan Alcott, who beat him in the 2016 Rio Paralympics final, on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday after semi-final opponent Heath Davidson pulled out through injury.
Lapthorne is aiming for a double after teaming up with American David Wagner on Thursday to win his fifth Australian Open quad doubles title.
US stars Serena and Venus Williams are to meet in the final of the 2017 Australian Open, eight years on from their last Grand Slam final clash.