The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal is to decide on the semi-finals of the Australian Open against the Greek shooting star Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the women’s Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova in the final.
Rafael Nadal has reached to a new Demonstration of his class for the fifth Time in the final of the Australian Open. “This feels really good,” said the 32-year-old Spaniard after his unchallenged victory against the shooting star Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 20-year-old Greek had previously defeated, among others, defending champion Roger Federer from Switzerland and for the first time in his career in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament. There he was, on this day, however, no chance. Nadal won in just 1:46 hours smooth in three sets with 6:2, 6:4, 6:0. This ranking remained the world’s second also in the sixth Match in Melbourne without losing a set.
“Today I have delivered a good Match, and games far a good tournament”, said Nadal in his usual modest style. On the question of whether he is the new Generation, standing for the Tsitsipas, something would give, replied the veteran: “The young men need not message. You are now well and prove to the month-to-month. They challenge us, and that is exciting.”
Nadal plays on the Sunday the 18. Grand Slam title of his career. At the Australian Open, he has triumphed so far, only 2009. His final opponent on Friday in the world rankings Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Frenchman Lucas Pouille.
Women’s final: Osaka against Kvitova
In the women’s US Open champion Naomi Osaka reaches for her second Grand Slam title. The 21-year-old Japanese girl won in the semi-final against Karolina Pliskova after 1:53 hours 6:2, 4:6, 6:4. “I knew that it will be a tough fight,” said Osaka after their victory against the 26-year-old Czech, who had set in the previous round against U.S. Star Serena Williams.
Osaka rejoices in the finals
Osaka hits in the Finale this Saturday on Pliskovas compatriot Petra Kvitova. The Czech won against American Danielle Collins in two sets 7:6 (7:2), 6:0. Collins had a game on their way to the semi-final round, the two best German tennis players, Angelique Kerber and Julia Görges, out of the race thrown in.
Roof closed
“The final means everything to me,” said Kvitova, the 2011 and 2014, the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon. “Finally, I managed at a Major again.” At temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius, Kvitova, and Collins had started her Match first, under the open sky, but the roof had been closed because of the heat – to the delight of Kvitovas: “I like to play in the hall. And love playoffs.”
Petra Kvitova came through at the end in two sets
In the final, it is not only the first Grand Slam title of the season, but also to the leadership of the world ranking list. Kvitova or Osaka will replace the Romanian Simona Halep as the number one.
sn/ck (dpa, sid)