Australian Open Overview: This happened last night

Linette continues to step into the breach for her Polish compatriot and top favorite Iga Swiatek, who was unexpectedly eliminated in the round of 6. She defeated Czech Karolina Pliskova 3,7:5:6 in Melbourne on Wednesday. After that, Belarusian Sabalenka gave Croatian Donna Vekic no chance with a score of 3,6:2:XNUMX. The women's semifinals are now complete.

For 30-year-old Linette, success comes out of nowhere. In her 30th Grand Slam tournament she is now in the semi-finals for the first time; before that she had never made it past the third round of a major. “Maybe I really can’t believe it,” she said at the press conference. On the other hand, the victory over Pliskova was the fourth in a row over a seed.

“I’m just happy,” Linette said. “I will never forget that. That lasts a lifetime.” In the fight for the final ticket, Linette will face Sabalenka on Thursday. The latter didn't last long with a 6:3,6:2 win over Vekic. The 24-year-old, who is now the top favorite for the title not only because of her seeding as number 5, is in a Grand Slam semi-final for the fourth time. Your record in 2023 is flawless: nine games, nine wins and not a set loss. “I'm super happy with the win, the atmosphere was incredible,” said Sabalenka, who had already triumphed in Adelaide as a warm-up. In addition, Vekic was something of a fearful opponent: she now reduced the score to 2:5 head-to-head against the Croatian.

Victoria Azarenka (BLR/30) and Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina (KAZ/22) had already qualified for the second semi-final on Tuesday. If Sabalenka and Azarenka win, there will even be a final between two protagonists from Belarus on Saturday. Sabalenka has won both previous encounters against Linette, while Azarenka lost the only duel with Rybakina last year in Indian Wells 3:6,4:6.

Paul almost never On the men's side, Tommy Paul defeated the 2007-year-old Ben Shelton after 20:3 hours in the first all-American quarterfinal at a major since 06 with 7:6(6),6:3,5:7,6: 4 enforced. For 25-year-old Paul, this means the first Grand Slam semi-final of his career and his first crack into the top 20.

Paul is the first US professional in the Melbourne semi-finals since his childhood idol Andy Roddick in 2009. Australia 2023 will also be unforgettable for Shelton: after three Challenger victories en suite, he had just qualified for his first major, but he only had to win one Have a passport issued for his first ever trip abroad and is now taking stock of the quarter-finals.

“Everyone dreams when they start playing tennis to reach the second weekend at a major,” said Paul, who also thought of Shelton and his other US colleagues. “I’m happy for all the boys. (Frances) Tiafoe was in the semi-finals at the US Open, now I am here.” Paul was also happy that he was able to give his mother, who had just flown in, and his friend Paige, influencer and birthday girl, a victory.

However, this successful run could end in the semi-finals on Friday: In the last men's quarter-finals, top star Novak Djokovic and Thiem's conqueror Andrej Rublev met in the night session, with the "Djoker" from Serbia fighting for his tenth Melbourne semi-final. No matter who wins this match: he is the clear favorite against Paul.

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Australian Open Overview: This happened last night

Aryna Sabalenka, seeded number five, and completely surprisingly Magda Linette are in the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Tommy Paul, on the other hand, won a thrilling US duel.

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