Australian Open 2020 Semi-finals HIGHLIGHTS: Novak Djokovic once again beat great rival Roger Federer at a Grand Slam on Thursday with a 7-6(1) 6-4 6-3 win to reach the Australian Open final and remain on course for a record-extending eighth title at Melbourne Park. It was the 50th act of one of the greatest rivalries of the sport and the odds were heavily stacked against Federer as the Swiss had not beaten the Serb at a major since 2012 on the grass courts of Wimbledon. In Sunday’s final, Djokovic will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Alexander Zverev of Germany and Austrian Dominic Thiem, who beat world number one Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals.
Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep crashed out in straight sets losses to 14th seed Sofia Kenin of USA and Garbine Muguruza of Spain, respectively. Under the lights at the Rod Laver Arena, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will take on each other again as both men chase history. The other men’s singles semi-final between Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem will take place on Friday. The women’s singles final takes place on Saturday while the men’s singles summit clash will be played on Sunday.
Ashleigh Barty was just two victories away from becoming the Australian Open’s first home-grown winner in 42 years but Sofia Kenin, who is known as an aggressive player, had completely different plans. Barty had looked off colour from the very start of the match with unforced errors flowing out of her racquet. In the end, the pressure got to her and Kenin pounced on the chance to beat her 7-6(3), 7-5 in an hour and 45 minutes. Kenin has made it to her first Grand Slam final while the home hopes are shattered.
The other-semi final at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where temperatures are forecast to soar to nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), was between fourth seed Simona Halep and unseeded Garbine Muguruza of Spain. Both Halep and Muguruza have a French Open and Wimbledon title each to their name. In the semi-final, both ladies had ample chances to beat each other but in the crucial moments, Muguruza showed better mental strength to emerge victorious. Muguruza defeated Halep 7-6(8), 7-5 to make her first Australian Open semi-final.
Earlier, Rohan Bopanna along with his partner Nadiia Kichenok crashed out of mixed doubles quarter-final against fifth seeds Nikola Mektic and Barbora Krejcikova. The Croatian-Czech pair, who had defeated the pair of Nick Kyrgios and Amanda Anisimova in the previous round, crushed Bopanna-Kichenok 6-0, 6-2 to stay on course for title defence.
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