It will be a fourth semi-final at the Australian Open in five years for Stefanos Tsitsipas after 2019, 2021 and 2022. To achieve this, the 24-year-old Greek dismissed the unexpected Czech Jiri Lehecka (71st) at the end of a very tight match but which the world number 4 was able to complete in three sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
“In the tie break, it was a question for him of coming back into the match or, for me, of really taking the upper hand”, he underlined to explain the tension of the moment and the level of play he has. then achieved. Another key moment was at 3-3 in the third set when, trailing 0/40, he scored five points in a row. “I came out of it with experience and with the right attitude,” he commented of that game.
Kachanov on the Greek route
More than honorable end to the course for the Czech who will have made a reputation by having released three seeds (Coric, Norrie and Auger-Aliassime). The next opponent of Tsitsipas, who played a Major final in 2021 at Roland-Garros, will be Karen Khachanov, semi-finalist of the last US Open.
The Russian (20th in the world) took advantage of the abandonment of Sebastian Korda (31st), but he was leading 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 3-0 when his opponent threw in the towel. In reality, only the first set was snagged because Korda injured his wrist “mishitting” a return of serve early in the second set.
From there, “at times I couldn’t hold the racquet anymore,” he explained. The pain becoming more and more intense, he finally stopped. But it is by conquering that Khachanov will present himself against Tsitsipas. “My first semi-final at the US Open boosted my self-confidence, so I can show who I really am and what I’m capable of when I’m playing at my best,” he warned.
Azarenka-Rybakina
For Victoria Azarenka, this is a long-awaited return to the highest level. Double champion of the Australian Open (2012 and 2013), she had still played a quarter in 2016, but had not, otherwise, exceeded the 8th finals reached last year. At 33, she is back in the last four after a major performance against the world No.3 Jessica Pegula, beaten 6-4, 6-1.
“I executed my game plan perfectly and I’m happy to be in the semis,” she analyzed, savoring the effects of all the work done in recent months to strengthen herself psychologically. “Last year, my tennis wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t there mentally. I was anxious, hesitant. So I worked a lot mentally,” she explained. To go further, she will have to find a way to return the balls catapulted into the service by her next opponent Elena Rybakina (25th).
Rybakina in force
On the strength of her title at Wimbledon last year, the 23-year-old Kazakh continues without fanfare a brilliant career in Melbourne where she plays the Major for the fourth time (best result: third round in 2020). After notably dismissing last year’s finalist Danielle Collins (11th) in three sets then world number 1 Iga Swiatek in two sets and not quite an hour and a half, she did not leave many chances on Tuesday to Latvian Jelena Ostapenko (17th) beaten 6-2, 6-4.
She notably stunned her opponent with 24 winners and eleven aces for a total of 35 in five games in a tournament started in the anonymity of the adjoining courts. But Miss Wimbledon 2022 is now in the spotlight at the Rod Laver court and thrilled to be there.
“I now have the experience of Wimbledon and it helps me, I know what to expect. So I feel good and I enjoy every match I play”, assured the great player (1.83m) who is surprised at the rare times she is recognized in the street.