| Australian Open |
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| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches, plus highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website. Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 08:00 GMT. |
Britain’s Andy Murray plays Canada’s Milos Raonic on Friday for a place in Sunday’s Australian Open final.
Four-time runner-up Murray is bidding to reach his fifth final in Melbourne, where Novak Djokovic awaits.
Big-serving Raonic, the 13th seed, is chasing a spot in his first Grand Slam final having seen off Frenchman Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals.
Murray, 28, and Raonic, 25, have played each other eight times on Tour, with honours even.
Full commentary on the match is available on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 08:30 GMT, with television highlights following on BBC Two at 14:00 GMT.
By his own admission, Murray has struggled to keep his mind on the job in Melbourne, despite advancing to the last four of the season’s first major.
The world number two’s father-in-law, Nigel Sears, collapsed earlier in the tournament, while his wife Kim is heavily pregnant back home in Britain.
Murray shrugged off the distractions to beat tough Spaniard David Ferrer in four sets in the quarter-finals but Raonic, who is in the form of his career, could pose a bigger threat.
Raonic, who reached the last four at Wimbledon in 2014, has long been tipped as the next big thing and under new coach Carlos Moya, he might be about to deliver on his promise.
The 6ft 5in Canadian was once written off as one-dimensional. However, he beat 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the fourth round using aggressive serve-and-volley tactics.
Roger Federer, who lost to Djokovic in their semi-final on Thursday, was certainly impressed by Raonic’s improvement after losing to him in the final of the Brisbane International earlier this month.
“For a big guy he moves well,” said 17-time major winner Federer. “He’s improved his fitness the last few years. Also, tactically he’s better now than he’s ever been.”
Murray versus Raonic promises to be an intriguing clash of styles, with power-player Raonic’s pitted against one of the game’s best returners and defenders.
Also one of the tour’s finest passers, Murray will be keen to test Raonic’s commitment to coming into the net early in the match.
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
Murray’s experience could count for a great deal, but Raonic has given notice this month that a maiden Grand Slam final may not be that far away.
He beat Roger Federer to win the title in Brisbane, and has knocked out the 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka en route to the last four in Melbourne.
His serve has found a pleasing groove and his net play is hugely advanced, having decided to dedicate much more time in practice to it.
But Murray played very well in the final two sets of his quarter-final victory over Ferrer and has won four of his five previous Australian Open semi-finals.
| Australian Open |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches, plus highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website. Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 07:00 GMT. |
Novak Djokovic advanced to his sixth Australian Open final with a 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 victory over Roger Federer.
The world number one dominated the first two sets with some superb hitting, then had to hold off a spirited Federer fightback.
It is the third straight Grand Slam in which Djokovic has beaten the Swiss, prolonging Federer’s wait for an 18th major title.
Djokovic will face Andy Murray or Canada’s Milos Raonic in the final.
The Serb has beaten British number one Murray in the final on three previous occasions, including last year’s four-set victory.
“I played unbelievably in the first two sets but I needed to because Roger has been playing unbelievably and I knew he would be aggressive,” 10-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic said.
Before the match, much attention had focused on the first set, with Federer never having beaten Djokovic in a best-of-five match having dropped the opener.
But it was barely a contest as Djokovic twice broke the world number three in his opening three service games.
Pummelling Federer with deep groundstrokes and using clever changes of pace to induce 12 unforced errors from his opponent, the Serb wrapped up the set inside 23 minutes.
And he was no less dominant in the second, decisively breaking to love in the third game as he threatened to hand a rattled Federer one of his worst ever defeats.
Not since a 2001 loss to Andre Agassi at the US Open had Federer been limited to just three games in the first two sets.
But just when a Djokovic victory seemed inevitable, somehow Federer managed to reverse the momentum of the match to take the third set.
The 34-year-old held his opening three service games then seized his opportunity in a mammoth sixth game, missing three break points before finally breaking Djokovic at the fourth opportunity.
The fourth set was closely contested as a resurgent Federer threatened to extend Djokovic to five sets for the first time since their epic meeting in the 2014 Wimbledon final.
But a poor game at 3-4 ultimately proved costly as Djokovic broke and then served out to love to edge ahead 23-22 in his rivalry with Federer.
“My rhythm, my timing, all that, was a bit off in the beginning,” said Federer. “He took advantage of that and did an unbelievable job for a long, long time tonight.”
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
On the evidence of the first six rounds in Australia, not a lot has changed in the world of tennis since the end of last season. Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic still look a cut above the rest, although Roger Federer’s rousing comeback thrilled everyone watching.
Djokovic made only six unforced errors in the first two sets – he was simply devastating. The rousing ovation Federer received as he came out to begin the third set sparked him into life, but the match was settled in the eighth game of the fourth.
Federer won the point of the tournament – playing a glorious half-volley, chasing down a lob, running down a smash, and hitting the line with a backhand pass – only for Djokovic to break and then serve his way into a sixth Melbourne final. He’s won the first five, and will take some stopping now.
| Australian Open |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches, plus highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website. |
Johanna Konta can win Grand Slam titles but may have to wait for Serena Williams to retire, says former French Open champion Sue Barker.
Konta, the first British woman to play in a Grand Slam semi-final for 33 years, lost 7-5 6-2 to Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open.
Asked if the 24-year-old could win one of tennis’s four Grand Slams, Barker said: “Of course she can.
“But Serena Williams is in a different league to everyone else.”
American Williams has won 21 Grand Slam singles titles – including eight of the past 14 on offer – and will turn 35 in September.
By contrast, Konta, who was ranked 147th in January 2015, was making her first Grand Slam semi-final appearance.
Despite losing to Kerber, she is set to rise from 47th in the world to inside the top 30 and would be seeded at the French Open and Wimbledon should she maintain that ranking through the summer.
Konta made 36 unforced errors to Kerber’s 11 in her straight-set defeat but Barker believes her rivals will be better prepared in the future.
“Konta has got all the shots – her serve is terrific, the forehand is a weapon and more reliable than it was – but now she has the mental attitude,” said BBC Sport presenter Barker.
“You saw that when she served for the match, lost her serve, but came back to beat Ekaterina Makarova 8-6 in the third set to make the quarter-finals.
“The top players are going to take note of her run.
“Their coaches are going to go out and watch her matches, find her weaknesses and where she does not move so well on the court. She has to add more variety to her game to combat that.”
Ο Σύλλογος Βετεράνων Αντισφαιριστών Ελλάδος, ανάρτησε στην ιστοσελίδα του www.svae.gr το καλεντάρι των τουρνουά για το έτος 2016. Πρώτη συνάντηση 11-13 Μαρτίου, στο Άργος, με αγώνες Διπλών-Μικτών.
Ο Στέφανος Τσιτσιπάς, παρά τις προβλέψεις, δεν κατάφερε να περάσει στα ημιτελικά του Australian Open Junior Championships. Ήταν το Νο 3 στο ταμπλό και είχαν ήδη αποκλειστεί το Νο1 του ταμπλό, ο Ούγγρος Mate Valkusz, και το Νο2 , ο Σέρβος Miomir Kecmanovic.
Ο Στέφανος έχοντας απέναντι του τον Αυστραλό Alex De Minaur, έχασε τη μάχη της πρόκρισης με σκορ 7-6(3), 5-7, 0-6.
Στο πρώτο σετ ο Στέφανος πήρε το προβάδισμα του αγώνα κερδίζοντας αποφασιστικά στο tie break με σκορ 7-3. Στο δεύτερο σετ, ο Αυστραλός έπαιξε πιο σταθερά, κάνοντας λιγότερα λάθη, και πήρε το σετ με σκορ 7-5. Στο τρίτο σετ ο Στέφανος λύγισε, ο Alex De Minaur το εκμεταλεύτηκε και πήρε το σετ χωρίς να χάσει ούτε game.
Ο Στέφανος Τσιτσιπάς θα συνεχίσει στο ATP Challenger του Launcheston στην Τασμανία.
| Australian Open |
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| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
Johanna Konta’s superb Australian Open run came to an end with defeat by German seventh seed Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals.
Konta, the first British woman for 33 years to play in a Grand Slam semi-final, went down 7-5 6-2 in Melbourne.
“I played against a better player today who earned her right to a Grand Slam final,” said the British number one.
The 24-year-old collects £370,000 in prize money, while her ranking is set to jump from 47 to inside the top 30.
Kerber goes on to face world number one Serena Williams, who took just 64 minutes to thrash Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4.
The American, 34, is the defending champion and is chasing a seventh Australian Open and 22nd Grand Slam title.
The Briton made a nervous start and could not stem a flow of errors that kept the pressure off Kerber.
Konta ended the match with 36 unforced errors to the German’s 11, having dropped serve five times over an hour and 22 minutes.
She looked every bit the debutante at this level as she slipped 3-0 down, with Kerber – twice a Grand Slam semi-finalist – hardly required to do anything but keep the ball in play in the early stages.
There was real hope for Konta when she found some rhythm and clawed her way back to lead 5-4 in the first set, but Kerber broke again at 5-5 and would lose just two more games.
Konta was staying upbeat after her loss, insisting: “I don’t think I missed an opportunity.”
She felt Kerber simply played better, adding there were a lot of positives to take from her straight-sets defeat.
“I’m really hungry to keep improving and keep enjoying what I’m doing,” she said. “So that’s where I’m at.
“I just will go back, keep working hard, keep improving the things that I want to improve and keep enjoying what I’m doing.”
Konta’s progress over the last 12 months has been described as “phenomenal” by GB Davis Cup captain Leon Smith.
“Jo should be so proud of herself, the way she’s played and handled herself,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Yes, she’ll be disappointed today, but she probably can’t wait to get going again.”
Jo Durie, Britain’s last female Grand Slam semi-finalist, and former British number one Greg Rusedski both tweeted praise for Konta.
Rusedski, who reached the US Open final in 1997,wrote: “Great run for @JoKonta91 getting to the semifinals of a GS for the first time. Now into the top 30 in the world. She will only get better.”
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller:
Johanna Konta says she has learnt to ‘feel comfortable being uncomfortable’ during her run to the semi-final.
The experience of winning five Grand Slam matches in a row and working through some stressful periods will stand her in great stead.
She will be 28 in the world when the rankings are updated on Monday and has very few points to defend until the grass-court season begins in June, so she has an excellent chance of being seeded for both the French Open and Wimbledon.
She has also earned the right to play in any tournament she chooses to, anywhere in the world.
It has been a phenomenal performance by a player, who before her run to the fourth round of the US Open last September, had only ever won one match in a Grand Slam main draw.
Radwanska was on a 13-match winning run, but she had lost all eight previous meetings with Williams and was again overwhelmed.
Williams was utterly dominant in the first set, her power advantage most obvious as she demolished the 5ft 8in Pole’s serve, winning 12 of 16 return points as she took it in 20 minutes.
The American’s form fell away in the second set, allowing Radwanska to recover from 3-1 down with four straight games that roused a crowd sympathetic to the Pole’s plight.
But Radwanska missed a forehand to drop serve at 4-4 and Williams, despite racking up 13 errors to four in the first set, found three aces in a row on her way to serving out the match.
“I’m really excited to be in another final, it kind of blows my mind right now,” said Williams.
Radwanska added that it would difficult for anyone to stop Williams.
“If she’s playing her best tennis, it’s a big difference,” she said. “I don’t think anyone can really play on that level.”
But Kerber responded: “I’m really looking forward to playing Serena in the final. I have nothing to lose and will give it everything.”
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| Australian Open |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches, plus highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website. Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 07:00 GMT. |
Britain’s Jamie Murray is through to his third consecutive Grand Slam doubles final after he and partner Bruno Soares won their Australian Open semi-final in straight sets.
The Scottish-Brazilian pairing saw off France’s Lucas Pouille and Adrian Mannarino 6-3 6-1 in Melbourne.
They will face Canada’s 43-year-old Daniel Nestor and 37-year-old Czech Radek Stepanek in Saturday’s final.
Murray reached the Wimbledon and US Open finals with John Peers in 2015.
“I’m starting to get the hang of this game, I think,” said Murray.
“It took me a long time to understand what it took to win, and to perform at optimum level every time you step on the court.
“I’ve been lucky, I had a great partner for the last few years in John Peers and now starting a new journey with Bruno here.
“It’s been a great two weeks for us and hopefully with one more match we can get over the final hurdle.”
Murray, 29, is the first Briton through to a final in a successful tournament for British tennis.
Johanna Konta lost in the women’s singles semi-finals, while Andy Murray, Jamie’s younger brother, plays Milos Raonic in the men’s last four on Friday.
“Somebody must be doing something right over in the UK,” said Jamie Murray.
“It’s been great. Andy’s obviously been doing amazing things for a long time and what Jo’s done this week has been quite unbelievable.”
Murray, who split with Australian Peers at the end of last season, won the Sydney International title with Soares in the build-up to the Australian Open.
Soares, 33, is a two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion and through to his second men’s doubles final, having finished runner-up at the 2013 US Open with Alexander Peya.
Pair to meet for 45th time in Australian Open semi-finals
“There’s a lot of tension. There’s a lot at stake. I’m expecting a great fight in two days,” said Novak Djokovic as he looked ahead to his blockbuster Australian Open semi-final with Roger Federer, set for Thursday night on Rod Laver Arena.
Indeed, Djokovic and Federer will share the court for the 45th time, with their FedEx ATP Head2Head finely balanced at 22-22. Their past three Grand Slam meetings all came in finals and all were won by Djokovic (2015 Wimbledon & US Open, 2014 Wimbledon). The last time they played a semi-final was four years ago at Wimbledon. Federer won.
It has been an uphill struggle for Federer against Djokovic in recent years as the Serb’s dominance on the ATP World Tour has grown. Since that Wimbledon victory, Federer has beaten Djokovic seven times in 18 meetings. The challenges that he – and the rest of the tour – have faced against Djokovic would make victory on Thursday and ultimately an 18th Grand Slam championship even sweeter for the Swiss.
“It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing,” said the 34-year-old Federer. “I feel like I’m competitive at the top. I can beat all the guys on tour. It’s nice now that in the last three slams that I’ve been as consistent as I have been.
“I’m playing good tennis, fun tennis for me anyway. I really enjoy being able to come to the net more like back in the day. So I’m very pleased. It would mean a lot to me, no doubt about it.”
Both Djokovic and Federer are bidding to reach their sixth Australian Open finals.
The 28-year-old Djokovic has never lost in a final at Melbourne Park, lifting his first Grand Slam trophy Down Under in 2008 (d. Tsonga) and returning victorious in 2011 (d. Murray), 2012 (d. Nadal), 2013 (d. Murray) and 2015 (d. Murray). Indeed, his 5hr., 53min., battle against Rafael Nadal in the 2012 finale would suggest he simply refuses to lose.
Federer first triumphed in Melbourne in 2004 (d. Safin) and reclaimed the trophy in 2006 (d. Baghdatis), 2007 (d. Gonzalez) and 2010 (d. Murray). He was runner-up to Nadal in the 2009 title match.
Djokovic is looking to reach his fifth successive Grand Slam final, having not lost prior to the title match at a major since the 2014 US Open, when he was beaten by Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals. Last year, the Serb won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open and fell just one match short of completing the calendar Grand Slam, losing to Stan Wawrinka in the Roland Garros final.
While Djokovic escaped a five-set scare in the fourth round against Gilles Simon, Federer has come through the draw largely unscathed – only dropping one set to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round – and having played three hours and 26 minutes less than Djokovic. Should Thursday night’s contest go the distance, though, Djokovic is backing himself to have a slight edge against Federer, six years his senior.
“Roger is playing really terrific tennis in the past two years,” said the Serb. “We played two Grand Slam finals last year. I know very well how well he plays, especially in the later stages of a major event.
“He always makes you play your best. My best is what is going to be necessary to win against him. Hopefully I’ll be able to deliver. This is going to be a big challenge for both of us. The longer the match goes, maybe I have a slightly bigger chance. I still don’t think it’s something I can heavily rely on.”
Unquestionably, Djokovic rises to the occasion in the big matches. The Belgrade native has won 15 of his past 16 tour-level matches against Top 10 opposition. His only defeat in that time came to Federer in the round-robin stages at the 2015 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Furthermore, he has won 12 of his past 13 matches against Top 10 opposition at Grand Slams, with his only defeat coming against Wawrinka in the 2015 Roland Garros final.
Federer is looking to reach his 29th Grand Slam final, which would make him the oldest finalist at the Australian Open since 1972, when Ken Rosewall (37 years, 62 days) and Mal Anderson (36 years, 306 days) played the final. At 34 years, 176 days, he is already the oldest man to reach the semi-finals at the Australian Open since Colin Dibley (aged 35 years 105 days) in 1979
The Basel native will need to buck the trend of semi-final defeats he has endured at Melbourne Park in recent years, falling in the final four in 2011 (l. to Djokovic), 2012 (l. to Nadal), 2013 (l. to Murray) and 2014 (l. to Nadal).
| Australian Open |
|---|
| Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 18-31 January |
| Coverage: Live radio and text commentary on all Andy Murray matches, plus highlights on BBC TV and BBC Sport website. Listen to Tennis Breakfast on Radio 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website from 07:00 GMT. |
Standing in Andy Murray’s way of another Australian Open final is 6’5″ big-hitting Canadian Milos Raonic.
And the man with the monster serve has revealed he has a unique preparation method for his run to the semi-final – art.
Speaking after victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils, Canadian Raonic revealed a trip to a Melbourne museum helped him focus on the quarter-final match-up.
“I saw a lot of Andy Warhol exhibits before,” said the 25-year-old. “It was more of the Ai Weiwei installations I wanted to see, especially the Infinite Bicycle one that was in the centre of the museum.
“It was magnificent in many ways. I think that whatever iteration you see of Andy Warhol’s life has been redefined over many years due to his unfortunate passing, but Weiwei’s story is constantly building and you’re hearing something different.
“There is a lot I’m learning about his house arrest and all these kind of things, his rebel behaviour towards establishment and so forth.
“I think the most impressive thing is how grand his installations are. It’s tough for somebody to put it in their own home, but they speak wonders I believe.”
Raonic beat 2014 Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka in a five-set fourth-round thriller on Monday and the 13th seed said the progress on his mental game was key to that victory.
“It’s something I’m getting better with. I can be very obsessive when it comes to the process and what I need to do for the next match. I am constantly considering things.
“[Going to an art gallery] was definitely a nice escape from myself. I got to participate in something that I really enjoy and a passion that’s definitely grown for me over the last two years.”
The only question now is: What would Raonic make of the dog portraits painted by Murray’s wife Kim?