Sharapova is the second big upset in women’s singles draw after Serena Williams was beaten by Serb Ana Ivanovic on Sunday.
Cibulkova fought back to beat Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the fourth round at Melbourne Park.Defending champion Victoria Azarenka, who breezed past America’s Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 and will face next the winner between Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza, is now viewed as the favourite for the women’s title.
China’s Li Na, seeded fourth and a twice runner-up in the last three years, is regarded as a potential challenger. Sharapova’s loss continued her poor run since she lost to Williams in the French Open final last year. She was bundled out in the second round at Wimbledon and withdrew from the US Open with a shoulder injury.
Sharapova saved Cibulkova’s first match point with a net cord that was shown by video review to have clipped the line. She pushed a backhand wide on the second match point to lose in two hours and 12 minutes. Cibulkova will meet Romania’s Simona Halep, who eliminated Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-0, in the quarterfinal.
In the men’s singles, sixth seed Federer packed off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes, reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the 11th consecutive year. The Swiss showed his class against a tought opponent, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with Andy Murray, who needed four sets to dispatch lucky loser Stephane Robert of France 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2 in two hours and 42 minutes. Despite beating Federer at Roland Garros last year, Tsonga couldn’t get close to the 17-time grand slam champion who produced his most impressive showing of the championship and provided evidence he can be a threat to the likes of Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
Nadal made through to the quarterfinal overcoming 16th seed Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). He next faces Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Nishikori was in fine form but the powerful Spaniard was too much for the Japanese, eventually taking a long and tough three-setter which lasted over three hours.
Federer calls on Edberg for Murray clash
MELBOURNE: Roger Federer is planning to tap coach Stefan Edberg’s deep well of experience to try some new things in his quarterfinal showdown with Andy Murray. The record 17-time Grand Slam champion cruised into the last eight at the year’s opening Slam with a consummate straight-sets victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday. The Swiss great, seeded six, rolled back the years as he swept past the French 10th seed 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in one hour 52 minutes in an evening match on Rod Laver Arena. Federer has now reached his 11th consecutive quarterfinal in Melbourne and equalled the record of 41 straight Slam quarters with American Jimmy Connors as he set up a rematch of last year’s semi-final which Murray won in five sets. Federer, who is working with the six-time Grand Slam champion Edberg for 10 weeks, said he will draw on the Swede’s knowledge to devise tactics for the match with Wimbledon champion Murray. ‘It’s not going to hurt. Yeah, it could be very helpful. We’ll talk about it a little bit about the Murray match,’ he said.
Cibulkova fought back to beat Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the fourth round at Melbourne Park.Defending champion Victoria Azarenka, who breezed past America’s Sloane Stephens 6-3, 6-2 and will face next the winner between Agnieszka Radwanska and Garbine Muguruza, is now viewed as the favourite for the women’s title.
China’s Li Na, seeded fourth and a twice runner-up in the last three years, is regarded as a potential challenger. Sharapova’s loss continued her poor run since she lost to Williams in the French Open final last year. She was bundled out in the second round at Wimbledon and withdrew from the US Open with a shoulder injury.
Sharapova saved Cibulkova’s first match point with a net cord that was shown by video review to have clipped the line. She pushed a backhand wide on the second match point to lose in two hours and 12 minutes. Cibulkova will meet Romania’s Simona Halep, who eliminated Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 2-6, 6-0, in the quarterfinal.
In the men’s singles, sixth seed Federer packed off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes, reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the 11th consecutive year. The Swiss showed his class against a tought opponent, setting up a quarterfinal meeting with Andy Murray, who needed four sets to dispatch lucky loser Stephane Robert of France 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-2 in two hours and 42 minutes. Despite beating Federer at Roland Garros last year, Tsonga couldn’t get close to the 17-time grand slam champion who produced his most impressive showing of the championship and provided evidence he can be a threat to the likes of Nadal, Murray and Djokovic.
Nadal made through to the quarterfinal overcoming 16th seed Kei Nishikori 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). He next faces Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Nishikori was in fine form but the powerful Spaniard was too much for the Japanese, eventually taking a long and tough three-setter which lasted over three hours.
Federer calls on Edberg for Murray clash
MELBOURNE: Roger Federer is planning to tap coach Stefan Edberg’s deep well of experience to try some new things in his quarterfinal showdown with Andy Murray. The record 17-time Grand Slam champion cruised into the last eight at the year’s opening Slam with a consummate straight-sets victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday. The Swiss great, seeded six, rolled back the years as he swept past the French 10th seed 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in one hour 52 minutes in an evening match on Rod Laver Arena. Federer has now reached his 11th consecutive quarterfinal in Melbourne and equalled the record of 41 straight Slam quarters with American Jimmy Connors as he set up a rematch of last year’s semi-final which Murray won in five sets. Federer, who is working with the six-time Grand Slam champion Edberg for 10 weeks, said he will draw on the Swede’s knowledge to devise tactics for the match with Wimbledon champion Murray. ‘It’s not going to hurt. Yeah, it could be very helpful. We’ll talk about it a little bit about the Murray match,’ he said.