It was easier than expected for second seed Roger Federer in the semifinal of Australian Open while India’s Rohan Bopanna and his partner Timea Babos produced a sublime show in the decider to storm into the final of mixed doubles event. Here’s a quick recap at the results of 12th day.
Roger Federer
Hugely popular Swiss star Roger Federer moved into Sunday’s final of Australian Open when South Korea’s history-maker Hyeon Chung retired with a lingering blister issue while trailing 5-2 in the second set. Federer — who breezed in the first 6-1 — now finds himself in a record seventh Australian Open final and 30th grand slam final overall.
He will next face sixth seeded Marin Čilić of Croatia in a repeat clash of last year’s Wimbledon final where the Swiss star ran away with more prestigious trophy.
ALSO READ: Saina earns the bragging rights, beats Sindhu in Indonesia Masters quarter
The contest under the roof at Rod Laver Arena lasted only 62 minutes and about five of those came when Chung received a medical timeout at 1-4 in the second set for the problem to his left foot. South Korea’s first grand slam semifinalist subsequently called it quits minutes later.
Chung had become the first Korean to enter the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.
Rohan Bopanna
Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and his partner Timea Babos of Hungary defeated Brazil’s Marcelo Demoliner and Spain’s Martinez Sanchez 7-5, 5-7, 10-6 in an intense battle to enter the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open on Friday.
The duo will now face Gabriela Dabrwoski and Mate Pavic in the final for the Grand Slam title on Saturday.
The fifth seeded duo of Bopanna and Babos fought back after losing the second set to Demoliner from Brazil and Sanchez from Spain to defeat them 7-5, 5-7, (10-6) in a three setter which was concluded in an hour and 25 minutes.
Bopanna and his partner Babos clinched the first set 7-5 in 34 minutes. The duo caused some unforced errors during the inital essay but still managed to clinch it.
In the second set, Sanchez and Demoliner took hold of the initial three set points. However, Bopanna and Babos fought back into the point with some great returns but lost it 5-7 by a narrow margin.
In the tie breaker, after trailing 1-2, Bopanna and Babos came back to level at 2-2. Later, they took two consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead and managed to close it (10-6) to enter the finals.
The Indo-Hungarian pair had reached the last four after defeating USA’s Abigail Spears and Colombia’s Juan Sebastian Cabal 6-4, 7-6 in one hour, 15 minutes.