Friday, February 19, 2021

Australian Open 2021 Update: Djokovic Powers Into Another Men's Final, While Serena Appears to Bid Tearful Farewell Down Under

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On the men's side, Serbian Novak Djokovic took care of business very quickly, dispatching with Aslan Karatsev in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. He now advanced to yet another Australian Open Men's final, where he will seek his ninth career championship in the Grand Slam "down under." He stands as the most successful player ever in terms of collecting Australian Open singles titles.

Meanwhile, Russian Daniil Medvedev took on Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the other semifinal match. Tsitipas had just pulled off the stunner of the tournament, knocking off all-time great Rafael Nadal in the quarters to reach these semifinals. However,  he did not do it again, losing in strait sets to Medvedev. 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Medvedev now will advance to this year's men's final in the first grand slam tournament of the year. What a start for him!

Now, he will face the great Djokovic in the final. A formidable task,  to say the least. 

On the women's side, Naomi Osaka knocked off Serena Williams 6-3, 6-4. Williams had been pursuing her 24th grand slam singles title, but after losing this semifinal, she was repeatedly asked if this was her last time at the Australian Open. At first, she seemed to avoid the question, but during the press conference, she broke down in tears, and appeared to give credibility to the idea that, indeed, this might have been the last time that she is seen at the Australian Open. 

As for Osaka, she advances to another Australian Open Women's Final, where she will face another American, Jennifer Brady. Brady will be playing in her first grand slam final, having outlasted Czech Karolína Muchová 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.



Photo courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr Page - Rafael Nadal: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/5756335239 Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Novak Djokovic
Photo courtesy of Yann Caradec's Flickr Page - Novak Djokovic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/la_bretagne_a_paris/5763317762

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