No worries for Novak
With Rafael Nadal absent, David Ferrer inherited the fourth seed at this year’s Australian Open – but on Thursday night, Novak Djokovic showed the chasm between the Big Four and the rest is as wide as ever.
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DAILY SUMMARY
Vika soldiers on
While Victoria Azarenka’s straight-sets victory over Sloane Stephens on Thursday looked straightforward, the circumstances behind it were anything but.
Sloane’s silver lining
Sloane Stephens may have lost her first major semifinal against Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, but she’ll leave Melbourne as a winner after a breakthrough fortnight.
Emerging powers
A glance at the junior draws at this year’s Australian Open reveals the global footprint of tennis is spreading further than ever.
Aussie mixed duo secure upset
Australian mixed doubles wildcards Jarmila Gajdosova and Matt Ebden continue their dream run in Melbourne, advancing to the semifinals after beating Nadia Petrova and Mahesh Bhupathi on Thursday.
A true pioneer
Judy Dalton, one of a group of women who blazed a trail towards professionalism in her sport, was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Heat no problem for Houdet
French wheelchair No.1 Stephane Houdet describes himself as a ‘lizard’, and was in his element on a hot day in Melbourne to qualify for the men’s final.
Age gap no barrier to Aussies' winning ways
Australian veteran Casey Dellacqua and teenager Ashleigh Barty will contest the women’s doubles final - the first wildcards to progress as far since 2007 and the first local pair since 1977.
Czech teen cruises into junior semifinals
In her first visit to Melbourne Park, 16-year-old Czech Katerina Siniakova has stormed into the semi-finals of the Australian Open girls’ singles championship.
Tables turned on Sharapova
Over the past 11 days, Maria Sharapova has been in a giving mood – candy, bagels, breadsticks, you name it. But on Thursday the giving stopped.
Li Na shatters Sharapova
In perhaps the best match she’s played in a year and a half, China’s Li Na crushed No. 2 Maria Sharapova 6-2 6-2 to move into the Australian Open final for the second time in her career.
Bryans through to ninth Melbourne final
America’s Bob and Mike Bryan are out to add another piece of silverware to their already bursting trophy cabinet and break an Australian-held record in the process.
Ferrer takes aim
David Ferrer has the fitness and never-say-die attitude to run with Novak Djokovic, but Thursday night’s semifinal will show if he has the game to topple the world No.1.
Day 11 Preview: ladies in waiting
It's women's semifinals day at Australian Open 2013 and the field is open for new stars to break through and more experienced campaigners to hold their ground.
Nice to meet you
Victoria Azarenka and Sloane Stephens have never played before, giving their semifinal on Thursday an extra dash of high-stakes intrigue.
Big deals step up for business
Two of the most marketable female athletes on the planet - Maria Sharapova and Li Na - will square off for a place in the women's singles final today.
