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The Particular Ks and their trademark chest bump has been taken over by a brand new pair of wildcard wizards which might be blitzing the Australian Open.
Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler rolled the No.1 males’s seeds on Wednesday to e book their place within the semi-finals nearly 12 months on from Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis taking the doubles world by storm.
Not like the Particular Ks, who’re greatest mates off the court docket, this 12 months’s pairing has an eight-year age hole with their cost maybe much more shocking.
However Wednesday’s 6-3 6-1 demolition of Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski was medical. The Australians didn’t concede a break level and they’ll now battle the No.8 seeds for a spot on this 12 months’s last.
It took simply over an hour to roll the title favourites on Kia Area.
Hijikata, 21, received a five-set epic in spherical 1 of the singles draw earlier than falling to semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas on Rod Laver Area.
‘I WAS JEALOUS’: AUS OPEN STAR’S LOCKDOWN ENVY
Unseeded Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette has recovered from the “most painful experience of her life” to reignite her singles profession.
Assured a brand new profession excessive rating of at the very least twenty second on the earth subsequent week, Linette couldn’t comprise her feelings as she beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 7-5 to succeed in the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
It’s not been a simple street for the Pole. Two years in the past she was compelled to withdraw from the Australian Open with a knee harm which consumed the next six months of her life.
It took docs 11 weeks to lastly diagnose the necessity for meniscus surgical procedure. A 5 month lay-off adopted.
As she watched her friends banished to isolation and Covid motels round Melbourne amid the worldwide pandemic in 2021, Linette admits she felt envy not sympathy.
“It was honestly the most painful experience of my life,” the 30-year-old stated of the knee harm.
“Nobody could diagnose me for almost 11 weeks, so I was out for total of five months. I had meniscus surgery, but because it was kind of tricky where the injury was, nobody could really see what was happening.
“Literally one day before my flight (to Australia in 2021), the pain and the uncomfortable feeling that I had came back with, like, some extra force.
“It came back, (I) did the surgery, basically next day withdrew. Had already my flight, had my hotel room.
“(I) Listened to everybody complaining about the isolation, and I was so jealous that they had to do it, because I really wanted to be there.”
3:10PM WOMEN’S SEMIS ARE SET
Aryna Sabalenka powered into the Australian Open semi-finals by beating Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2 in a 1hr 49min battle on Rod Laver Area.
The Belarusian fifth seed, the highest-ranked participant left within the draw, will play unseeded Magda Linette for a spot in Saturday’s last.
“She’s a great player,” stated Sabalenk who stays undefeated in 2023 and is but to drop a set.
“It is tough to play against her. I think… I don’t know. I was – kind of expecting this game from her. I was able to stay in the game, no matter what. I think that was the key.”
2:14PM WHAT IS BEHIND USA RESURGENCE?
American males’s tennis is witnessing a resurgence with a unlikely trio all making a Grand Slam quarter-final for the primary time since 2005, and they’re thriving off every others success.
Forward of the Australian Open, world quantity 9 Taylor Fritz and Seventeenth-ranked Frances Tiafoe have been the names on everybody’s lips after they led america to glory within the inaugural combined groups United Cup.
But it surely has been lesser-known gamers Ben Shelton, JJ Wolf, Sebastian Korda and Tommy Paul who’ve grabbed the highlight in an indication of renewed energy and depth within the males’s recreation.
Two of them, former faculty standouts Shelton and Wolf, surged into the final 16 on their event debut, whereas Korda and the extra skilled Paul have loved their greatest Grand Slam ever.
Whereas tennis is a person sport, Paul stated there had been a component of group mentality in Melbourne, with every of them feeding off the opposite.
“Absolutely. I think we see people that we’ve played our whole lives, kind of felt like we’ve been around the same level as them our whole lives, and we see them doing big things in big tournaments,” stated the 25-year-old all-court participant. “We’re like, ‘OK, I can do that’.
“At the same time I think we push each over, not just from results-wise, but when we’re talking to each other, we help each other, we push each other, we want each other to do well.
“It’s a good group coming up.”
1:20PM WHY IS ROGER UPSIDE DOWN?
He’s not in Melbourne this 12 months however he can nonetheless make the headlines.
So simply what’s Roger Federer doing hanging the other way up in his underpants?
The tennis legend has been pictured in his lingerie, sporting a swim cap and suspended from the ceiling all within the identify of artwork.
Swiss artist and sculptor Ugo Rondinone approached the Swiss maestro – who has now retired from the game – to be a part of an enormous exhibition referred to as “Cloud Six”.
Federer was put into the weird poses to ensure that the artist to seize his 3D determine.
Federer reportedly spent hours inside full-body moulds, hanging from a harnesses and even had his whole face lined in silicone.
Your entire ordeal was captured on digital camera for a documentary referred to as “Portrait of a Champion”.
“I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity to work with both Ugo Rondinone and Credit Suisse as the world of art has been something I have long admired,” Federer stated.
“This new experience gave me the chance to push me out of my comfort zone and opened my eyes to learn the intricate processes of creating art.”
12:07PM AUS OPEN STAR RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS OF ‘HATEFUL ACT’
Australian Open semi-finalist Karen Khachanov has been accused of a “hateful act” for messages he has posted on TV digital camera lenses after his matches.
The Russian star, who reached the final four after Sebastian Korda was compelled to retire from their quarter-final, wrote “keep believing until the very end. Artsakh, hold on!” after his fourth spherical win over Frances Tiafoe.
He beforehand wrote “Artsakh stay strong” after an earlier spherical.
His messages check with the Republic of Artsakh, which is at the moment blockaded by Azerbaijan.
Now the Azerbaijan Tennis Federation says it had protested to Australian Open bosses and the ITF calling for the 18th seed to be “punished with harsh measures”.
“The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation (ATF) has sent a letter of protest to the International Tennis Federation regarding the provocation against Azerbaijan at the Australian Open Tennis Grand Slam,” a press release stated.
“Karen Khachanov, a Russian athlete of Armenian origin, who reached the 1/16 finals in the men’s competition, attracted attention with his hateful act. Thus, after claiming 3:1 victory over his American rival Frances Tiafoe, Khachanov wrote ‘Artsakh stay strong’ on the camera.
“The Azerbaijan Tennis Federation letter presented facts and legal documents regarding the provocation against Azerbaijan. The ATF condemned this act and demanded the tennis player be punished and urged the International Tennis Federation to take harsh measures for prevention of such incidents in the future.”
Requested to clarify what he had written after securing a semi-final berth, Khachanov stated: “I have Armenian roots from my father’s side, from my grandfather’s side, even from my mum’s side – I’m half Armenian.
“I just wanted to show strength and support to my people. That’s it.”
11:07AM SEMI-FINALS ARE UNDER WAY
Magda Linette means enterprise this 12 months.
The 30-year-old from Poland has taken the primary set 6-3 in her semi-final in opposition to Karolina Pliskova.
Warmth definitley enjoying an element for each ladies at this time. That first time period enjoying out in 35 minutes.
Can’t assist however really feel this one goes the space.
9:32AM WHERE IS PENG SHUAI?
A senior Human Rights Watch researcher has referred to as on Tennis Australia to make use of its grand slam highlight to talk up for the “not free” Peng Shuai.
Peng, as soon as ranked No.14 on the earth, was broadly reported to have vanished in November 2021 after accusing retired Chinese language Communist Social gathering vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a social media submit.
Peng made managed appearances in 2022 following the ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ motion and has since denied making the allegations.
The Girls’s Tennis Affiliation, which suspended all occasions in China, says it’s assured Peng is “safe and comfortable” however admits it’s but to make progress on its bid to fulfill together with her in non-public – its ultimatum for returning to the profitable market.
Talking from New York, Human Rights Watch senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang stated Peng’s latest appearances have been compelled and that TA must be utilizing the Australian Open limelight to name for her freedom.
9:06AM NO 1 RANKING BECKONS
Stefanos Tsitsipas stated he was “a different player” from the previous after blasting right into a fourth Australian Open semi-final and a showdown with Karen Khachanov.
The Greek third seed proved too highly effective for unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka on Rod Laver Area, storming dwelling 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 as he zeroes in on a maiden main title.
He’ll face the Russian 18th seed Khachanov for a spot in his first Melbourne Park last, having crashed within the semis thrice beforehand, together with previously two years.
Russia’s Khachanov booked his place when American Sebastian Korda retired harm with a wrist harm whereas trailing 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0.
Requested afterwards if he felt otherwise from earlier years and believes this might lastly be his 12 months, the 24-year-old Tsitsipas stated: “I’m feeling great with my tennis. I don’t think I felt so good in a long time.
“I will definitely say yes to it. I’ve said it, I’m a different player, playing different. My mentality is different.
“When I’m out on the court, I don’t really think of negatives, to be honest. I just go out there and play the game.” Tsitsipas, who will turn out to be world primary ought to he win the title, has thrived on the vitality from the group in Melbourne.
7:30AM A CHAMPION’S FEARS
Victoria Azarenka reached her first Australian Open semi-final since profitable the title in 2013, then opened up Tuesday about overcoming “anxiety” and “fears of failing” on court docket.
The Belarusian, who received back-to-back Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013, knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-1 on Tuesday.
The twenty fourth seed outlasted her American opponent in a marathon 64-minute first set earlier than working away with the second to arrange a last-four encounter in opposition to Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at Melbourne Park.
Requested about her battles with nerves and anxiousness, Azarenka detailed what she had been by in recent times and the way it had held her again from profitable one other main.
“I don’t think you recognise it right away. I think it builds up until you hit kind of a pretty bad spot where nothing kind of makes sense,” she informed reporters.
“You feel kind of lost. I was at the point where I couldn’t find anything that I feel good about myself, not like even one sentence.” Requested what her greatest worries have been, Azarenka gave a blunt reply. “Fears of failing is a big one. To not be able to do what I want to do,” she stated. “I’ve had panic attacks before.”
7AM KYRGIOS V BERNIE: TWIST IN AUSTRALIAN SPORT’S UGLIEST FEUD
Is the temperature cooling round one of many spiciest feuds in Australian sport?
It actually appears that means, with Bernard Tomic extending an olive department to long-time foe Nick Kyrgios.
Tomic, whose world rating has slipped all the way in which right down to 468, posted a message to Kyrgios on his Instagram account wishing the showman a fast restoration from his knee surgical procedure.
“Despite our differences we go way back. Wish (Nick Kyrgios) a quick recovery. Hope to see him back on the circuit soon,” Tomic wrote.
Kyrgios was compelled to drag out of the Australian Open on day one of many event earlier than he may even hit a ball.
He instantly underwent an arthroscopic process to wash up his lateral meniscus and take away a paralabral cyst.
Kyrgios posted a message to his followers on his Instagram account following the profitable surgical procedure.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to get back to my best,” he wrote.
“To the real ones checking in and sending the vibes … I love you.”
It’s unclear the place Tomic sits on the “real ones” rankings.
The feud between Kyrgios and Tomic dates again years and was lively as just lately as final month.
It was then Tomic was neglected for each essential draw and qualifying wildcards for this 12 months’s Open, to which a fan posted on Twitter that the Queenslander “surely” deserved one.
Kyrgios then chimed in, tweeting “Hahahahaha NO HE DOESNT”.
Additionally final 12 months, Kyrgios was requested throughout an Instagram Q&A if he would think about an exhibition match in opposition to Tomic.
He responded by saying:
“TBH (to be honest), don’t think I wanna make him relevant anymore. I’m not gonna bother with someone 800 in the world. But all the best.”
Initially printed as Australian Open Day 10 live scores: Schedule, order of play, highlights, results
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