Melbourne: In a stunning comeback, shadvanced to the semi-final of the Australian Open here on Wednesday by beating Serena Williams 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. The Czech world No. 7 recovered from 1-5 down and four match points in the final set to edge past the American grand slam star and world No. 16 in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Pliskova will play Japan’s world No. 4 Naomi Osaka in the Thursday semi-finals. Earlier in the day, Osaka beat Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1. Lucas Pouille became the first Frenchman to reach the semi-finals at the Melbourne Park since Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2010 when he stunned Canada’s 16th seed Milos Raonic on Wednesday.
Pouille, the 28th seed, fought back from a break down in the first set to win 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 and reach the last four of a Slam for the first time. World number one Novak Djokovic on Wednesday also cruised into the semi-final roundas his Japanese opponent Kei Nishikori retired in the second set of their quarters clash due to an injury. The duo played on the court for 52 minutes before the match was called off in the second set and the final scoreline reading 6-1, 4-1 in Djokovic’s favour. The six times Australian Open champion won 51 points in the match, along with 25 service points, to continue his dominance over Nishikori. Next, Djokovic will be up against Lucas Pouille of France, who defeated Milos Raonic of Canada in their quarter-final clash, to get a ticket to the final round of the Australian Open. (ANI) Pouille recently recruited 2006 Melbourne Park champion Amelie Mauresmo to his team after a splitting with long-time coach Emmanuel Planque in the off-season.
But the world number 31 came into Melbourne in poor form, he had lost all three of his singles matches at the Hopman Cup and suffered a first-round exit at the Sydney International. “I’m very happy,” Pouille said. “I was trying to forget the start of the year. “I just kept working hard. All the matches I decided to take step by step, give everything on every point and here I am. “Last year I lost a bit of joy being on the court,” he added. “I started a new adventure with my team, with Amelie. I enjoy being on the court again and that is the most important.” Former world number three Raonic raced to a 3-0 lead after breaking Pouille’s first service game as the Frenchman seemed to take a few minutes to adjust to the magnitude of the occasion on Rod Laver Arena. Pouille soon settled into the match so effectively that he not only broke back at 5-3 down but he also held break points again at 5-5. Raonic resisted to take it to a tiebreak but Pouille had the momentum and secured the set on the back of 18 winners to only five unforced errors.
“I really wanted to return as much as possible and make him play, take care of my serve and not put too much pressure on myself,” said Pouille. “I just enjoyed the moment.” Pouille had equalled his best Slam performance by reaching the quarter-final and was aiming to become the first Frenchman to reach the last four at any major since Gael Monfils at the 2016 US Open. An early break in the second put him in the driving seat. Raonic had to dig deep at 3-3, 15-40 in the third set with his famed huge serve coming to the rescue. Four first serves staved off the danger. He saved two more at 4-4 and in the inevitable tiebreak. A ripping forehand return to Raonic put him 3-0 clear in the tiebreak and he ran away with it 7-2 to get a foothold. But Pouille put Raonic’s serve under increasing pressure in the fourth set and gained his first match point with the Canadian serving at 4-5.
