Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka reached his first Grand Slam final after edging out Tomas Berdych in four tight sets at the Australian Open.
The eighth seed beat the Czech 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) in three hours 31 minutes and will play either Rafael Nadal or fellow Swiss Roger Federer in Sunday’s final.
Wawrinka, who upset three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, will supplant his close friend Federer as the Swiss number one unless the 17-time Grand Slam champion wins the title. Federer has held the top Swiss ranking since 2001. “I feel great. It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to make a final in a Grand Slam in my career. Tonight it’s happening, so I’m really happy,” Wawrinka said.
“I’ve been working really hard for many years, trying to improve my game, trying to get some big matches in a big stadium. Now I’m in the first final in a Grand Slam, so I can be only really happy.”
Slovakian underdog Dominika Cibulkova stunned fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday, losing just three games to storm into an Australian Open final against China’s Li Na.
The 20th seed was in inspired form to rip the Pole to shreds 6-1, 6-2 and not only make her first Grand Slam final in 26 attempts but also become the first player from her country to get so far.
“Aga is an unbelievable player and I expected a tough match. I just knew I had to go for my shots,” said the 24-year-old, who has won three career singles titles, including at Stanford last year where she beat Radwanska in the final. “I had so many thoughts in my head (during the match) but just focused on my game. I can’t believe I’m in a final.”
China’s Li Na swept into her second consecutive Australian Open final, using her all experience to brush aside Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets on Thursday.
The fourth seed ended the 19-year-old’s inspiring run at Melbourne Park 6-2, 6-4 and will play either fifth seed Agniezska Radwanska or 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday’s final.
Li, 31, has consistently been a solid performer on Melbourne’s plexicushion courts over the last five years, now reaching three finals, as well as another semifinal and the fourth round.
But Li has never taken the next step, beaten by Kim Clijsters in 2011 and agonisingly by Victoria Azarenka in the final last year, when she dramatically twice rolled her ankle and blacked out.
The eighth seed beat the Czech 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) in three hours 31 minutes and will play either Rafael Nadal or fellow Swiss Roger Federer in Sunday’s final.
Wawrinka, who upset three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, will supplant his close friend Federer as the Swiss number one unless the 17-time Grand Slam champion wins the title. Federer has held the top Swiss ranking since 2001. “I feel great. It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to make a final in a Grand Slam in my career. Tonight it’s happening, so I’m really happy,” Wawrinka said.
“I’ve been working really hard for many years, trying to improve my game, trying to get some big matches in a big stadium. Now I’m in the first final in a Grand Slam, so I can be only really happy.”
Slovakian underdog Dominika Cibulkova stunned fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday, losing just three games to storm into an Australian Open final against China’s Li Na.
The 20th seed was in inspired form to rip the Pole to shreds 6-1, 6-2 and not only make her first Grand Slam final in 26 attempts but also become the first player from her country to get so far.
“Aga is an unbelievable player and I expected a tough match. I just knew I had to go for my shots,” said the 24-year-old, who has won three career singles titles, including at Stanford last year where she beat Radwanska in the final. “I had so many thoughts in my head (during the match) but just focused on my game. I can’t believe I’m in a final.”
China’s Li Na swept into her second consecutive Australian Open final, using her all experience to brush aside Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets on Thursday.
The fourth seed ended the 19-year-old’s inspiring run at Melbourne Park 6-2, 6-4 and will play either fifth seed Agniezska Radwanska or 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova in Saturday’s final.
Li, 31, has consistently been a solid performer on Melbourne’s plexicushion courts over the last five years, now reaching three finals, as well as another semifinal and the fourth round.
But Li has never taken the next step, beaten by Kim Clijsters in 2011 and agonisingly by Victoria Azarenka in the final last year, when she dramatically twice rolled her ankle and blacked out.