Australian Open: No regrets for Djokovic after Wawrinka defeat

Defending champion dumped out in quarters; Li seals semis berth.

MELBOURNE: A magnanimous Novak Djokovic said he lost to the better player as his 25-match win streak at the Australian Open was ended by Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-final on Tuesday.

The Serb led by a break of serve in the final set at 2-1, but Wawrinka hit back to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 and take revenge for his defeat by Djokovic in another epic battle at the same stage last year.

The four-time champion missed a simple volley on match point to hand Wawrinka his semi-final spot and had no complaints about the result.

“Obviously I’m disappointed but tomorrow is a new day,” said Djokovic. “I have to accept the fact that you can’t win all the matches that you play.



“One thing I can be proud of is that I gave my best (but) it wasn’t enough. He [Wawrinka] was a better player. He took his opportunities. He deserved this win. I congratulate him.”

Wawrinka’s triumph blew the tournament wide open, setting up a semi-final with Czech Tomas Berdych while snapping the Serb’s 28-match winning streak.

“He’s an amazing champion, he never gives up,” said the Swiss. “I was really focused point after point. I had to stay aggressive, not to give up.”

Meanwhile, big-serving Czech Tomas Berdych fended off a belated challenge from Ferrer to reach his maiden Australian Open semi-final with a gritty 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory.

Impressive Li sweeps into semis

China’s Li Na demolished Flavia Pennetta as she swept impressively into the semi-finals and a date with precocious teen star Eugenie Bouchard.

The Chinese world number four pummelled winners past the Italian as she broke five times and won 62 points to just 37 for her opponent in the 6-2, 6-2 victory.

Li, seeking her second Grand Slam title, is peaking at the right time, with the 67-minute mauling coming after she went past Ekaterina Makarova in less than an hour on Sunday.

“I have got better, I have gained a lot of confidence and I believed in myself,” she said. “I feel good, I always play well here and I hope I can take one more step this year.”

Aisam cruises into quarter-finals

Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his German partner Julia Goerges cruised into the quarter-final of the mixed doubles event on Tuesday.

Despite Aisam’s third round exit from the men’s doubles event, the Pakistan tennis ace continued his campaign at the grand slam in the mixed doubles competition.

Aisam and Goerges defeated fourth seeds Czech Republic’s Andrea Hlavackova and Belarus’ Max Mirnyi 6-3, 6-4 in just 59 minutes.

They will now play sixth seed India’s Sania Mirza and Romania’s Horia Tecau in the quarter-final.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2014.

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