MELBOURNE - Rafael Nadal booked an all-Spanish Australian Open semifinal against Fernando Verdasco yesterday as Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat to keep her dreams alive.
MELBOURNE - Rafael Nadal booked an all-Spanish Australian Open semifinal against Fernando Verdasco yesterday as Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat to keep her dreams alive.
The world number one fought off a determined rear-guard action by battling French six seed Gilles Simon to win 6-2 7-5 7-5 as he goes in search of his first Aussie Open title.
The victory earns him a crack at Verdasco for a place in the final against Roger Federer or Andy Roddick after the left-hander sent French fifth seed and last year's runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga packing 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.
In contrast to Verdasco's seven-year wait to make the business end of a grand slam, Williams booked her 15th grand slam semifinal as temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius. The roof was finally closed on the Rod Laver Arena and Williams was a beneficiary.
The three-time champion was a set down to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova at the time but recovered her composure against the fuming eighth seed to run out a 5-7 7-5 6-1 winner. - Sapa-AFP
Rafa rolls on as Serena shows fighting spirit
MELBOURNE - Rafael Nadal booked an all-Spanish Australian Open semifinal against Fernando Verdasco yesterday as Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat to keep her dreams alive.
MELBOURNE - Rafael Nadal booked an all-Spanish Australian Open semifinal against Fernando Verdasco yesterday as Serena Williams clawed back from a set down in searing heat to keep her dreams alive.
The world number one fought off a determined rear-guard action by battling French six seed Gilles Simon to win 6-2 7-5 7-5 as he goes in search of his first Aussie Open title.
The victory earns him a crack at Verdasco for a place in the final against Roger Federer or Andy Roddick after the left-hander sent French fifth seed and last year's runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga packing 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 6-2.
In contrast to Verdasco's seven-year wait to make the business end of a grand slam, Williams booked her 15th grand slam semifinal as temperatures soared to 41 degrees Celsius. The roof was finally closed on the Rod Laver Arena and Williams was a beneficiary.
The three-time champion was a set down to Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova at the time but recovered her composure against the fuming eighth seed to run out a 5-7 7-5 6-1 winner. - Sapa-AFP