Rafael Nadal’s uncle has reportedly aired recent doubts about Novak Djokovic’s hamstring harm.
The Serbian has stormed into the Australian Open semi-finals, shaking off reported harm points to say convincing wins over Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev prior to now two rounds.
Djokovic stated after his win over de Minaur his hamstring was feeling pretty much as good because it had at any level through the event, confirming he had managed the difficulty with anti-inflammatories.
Toni Nadal reportedly instructed Spanish media: “For years we saw that injuries had an immediate effect on Rafa’s health. He could not end matches sometimes. With Novak, it’s different. I am not saying he is faking injuries but it’s normal to have doubts.”
NEW DOUBLES HEROES NEED A NICKNAME
Why change a superb factor?
Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler are into the Australian Open males’s ultimate and planning to proceed their distinctive preparation for the Saturday showpiece.
The Aussie pair — ranked 163rd and 277th on the earth for doubles — have emulated Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis’ feat by reaching the decider as qualifiers at Melbourne Park.
They dispatched eighth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 6-2 in a commanding semi-final efficiency to guide a ultimate towards Hugo Nys and Jan Zieliński.
Asked what their lead-up to the ultimate would appear like, Hijikata stated: “(Jason will be) smashing on some lollies and Pepsi, and I’ll probably sleep for most of the day tomorrow.”
It’s a singular system however one that’s clearly working for the unlikely doubles heroes.
They have eradicated the primary and eighth seeds of their previous two outings with out dropping a set, storming into the ultimate and capturing the eye of a nation.
DON’T LIKE OUR SUGGESTIONS? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE HIJIKATA-KUBLER NICKNAME
Now the problem is out for somebody to provide you with a nickname by Saturday to allow them to match the ‘Special Ks’.
“We seem to have bad names for a nickname. We think of it and then there’s nothing,” Kubler stated.
“Nothing that sounds that good. Hopefully someone can come up with something but if not, Jason and Rinky should be fine.”
One identify which was urged throughout their press convention was ‘Team Kinky’.
It obtained amusing, however Kubler stated “I don’t think we can run with that one”.
Hijikata and Kubler may not play conventional doubles tennis or have the historical past collectively of different pairings, however their partnership is working wonders.
“It’s funny because at some stages we’re just yelling at each other,” Kubler stated.
“I don’t know what he’s saying, he doesn’t know what I’m saying, he doesn’t know what I’m saying we’re just yelling.
“There’s happens of energy and we both play better when there’s more energy. We’ll keep it going. I don’t know what the leader is but we’re doing pretty well right now.”
7PM CAN AZARENKA OUST WIMBLEDON CHAMP?
Tonight’s first ladies’s semi-final has so many nice storylines.
It’s the Wimbledon champion who gained no factors for her win towards the veteran who gained her final Grand Slam in Australia 10 years in the past.
Azarenka has solely reached one Grand Slam ultimate since 2013 — the 2020 US Open.
Can she break her drought and go a step nearer to a 3rd Aussie Open title?
6.50PM DOKER CONCERN CAN’T BE IGNORED
Two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier says the difficulty of Novak Djokovic’s hamstring will “hover” over his semi-final towards Tommy Paul.
While Courier stated Djokovic was “heavy favourite” to maneuver a step nearer to his tenth Australian Open, he stated the Serbian was “only one step away from trouble”.
“He has played unbelievably well, ruthlessly efficient in his last two matches against quality opposition, but you’re only one step away from trouble if you have the hamstring issue,” Courier stated on Channel 9.
“That is what Tommy Paul has to sell himself and what the — tell himself and what about the tennis Tsitsipas has been playing.Novak, when he is normal, he hits the back end and he slides the open stance on the open side but he is turning around so as not to put pressure on the left leg. That is not normal.
“That tells me he is protecting a problem there so it’s tougher for him to defend in the backhand corner. He will need to use that and get Novak to do something awkward.”
5.50PM WHAT THE SEMI-FINALISTS SAID:
Here’s what Elena Rybankia, Victoria Azakarena, Magda Linette and Aryna Sabalenka stated about their semi-finals.
Azarenka on dealing with Rybakina: It can be a fantastic matchup. We solely performed as soon as final 12 months. Was a little bit of type of a bizarre match for me. I’m trying ahead to having that problem.
“She’s an incredible player. She won Wimbledon last year. I think maybe she had a little bit of up and downs, but she’s a very good, solid player. Her ranking obviously doesn’t tell the full story.
“Yeah, she’s very powerful. Big serve. She’s in the semifinal, so she’s obviously playing amazing. Had some really tough wins, good wins. So, yeah, it’s going to be a big challenge. I’m excitedabout that.
Rybakina on Pegula or Azarenka (before her semi-final was locked in): Yeah, for sure, they are tough opponents for me. We know each other well. Was a tough match against Jessica in Guadalajara, but there it was also special conditions. And against Vika in Indian Wells.
“Yeah, tough opponents, but like always, I will try to prepare, I will try to watch the matches, analyze, think about this, and for sure I’m gonna give my best on thecourt.”
Linette on Sabalenka: My final encounter wasn’t the most effective on the Olympics, so I assume I’ve actually large room there, as a result of it clearly can’t be any worse than the final one.
“I will just try what I’m doing this whole week. I’m being very consistent, returning really well, and keeping my serves. I think she will be, you know, just a little bit more consistent version of being aggressive on every single shot. I will just need to serve really well again.
I will try to do my best on the return, and I have been doing that pretty well the last two matches, especiallywhen the opponent was kind of similar.
Sabalenka on Linette: Yeah, she’s a great player. She’s playing great tennis these weeks in Australia. Yeah, moving well, serving well, handling emotions well. Yeah, she’s a great player. It’s going to be great battle.I’m really looking forward for this match.
5.15PM WHO WINS TONIGHT?
It’s your turn to have your say on who you think will make the Australian Open women’s final.
VOTE BELOW
4.48pm WHAT HIJIKATA, KUBLER SAID
RINKY: No, I was still pretty bummed about my singles match to be honest! But, yeah, I guess, wow, we’ll take it for sure.
KUBLER: Who would have thought, who would have thought. We both returned unbelievable. If any watched the match yesterday they saw Rinky lacing them, I was happy to do my part today. Unbelievable, we get a rest day tomorrow, and then play Saturday.
RINKY: I don’t even know at this point. I have think we just see the ball, hit the ball. Don’t know to be honest.
KUBLER: It’s funny because at some stages we’re just yelling at each other. I don’t know what he’s saying, he doesn’t know what I’m saying, he doesn’t know what I’m saying we’re just yelling. There’s happens of energy and we both play better when there’s more energy. We’ll keep it going. I don’t know what the leader is but we’re doing pretty well right now.
RINKY: (Asked about their preparation for the final) Smashing on some lollies and Pepsi, and I’ll probably sleep for most of the day tomorrow.
KUBLER: I was lucky enough to play a couple of matches on Ken Rosewall Arena and great to have that atmosphere and experience. This was the first time I’ve played on Rod Laver Arena in the day I think, so I was a bit nervous to come out but as soon as our energy comes out, I’m not even thinking anymore, I’m just swinging…With each match we get more confident and I feel more at home on these big courts.
RINKY: I don’t know, hey, no clue, I guess…yeah, if someone can come up with one. I think it must be pretty hard because we haven’t found one yet.
KUBLER: We seem to have bad names for a nickname. We think of it and then there’s nothing. Nothing that sounds that good. Hopefully someone can come up with something but if not, Jason and Rinky should be fine.
4.42PM AUSSIE DUO INTO MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL
They’ve done it! Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler, ranked 277th and 163rd in the world for doubles, are into the Australian Open final with a 6-4 6-2 victory. Boy does the crowd love it!
“Wow, this has been such a good performance both on serve, placement and returns from the two Australians,” says doubles legend Todd Woodbridge.
4.36PM HIJIKATA, KUBLER TO SERVE FOR MATCH
The Aussie pair break once more within the second set and are close by of the lads’s doubles ultimate. They lead 5-2 within the second set. Start Googling males’s doubles since you may need to sound like an skilled when discussing these two along with your mates! First the Special Ks, now Kubler and Hijikata. One extra to go.
4.32PM AUSSIE PAIR THREE GAMES FROM FINAL
Hijikata and Kubler proceed to carry a break within the second set and at 3-2, Todd Woodbridge sums up what each Aussie within the crowd appears to be considering: “This is fun. This is great viewing,” he says on Channel 9. Hijikata has simply held serve to make it 4-2.
4.05PM AUSSIES TAKE FIRST SET IN DOUBLES SEMI-FINAL
Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler have taken the primary set of their males’s doubles semi-final towards eighth seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
Looking to maintain the title in Aussie palms and repeat the feat of the ‘Special Ks’ final 12 months, Hijikata and Kubler are one arrange after taking the primary set 6-4.
Huge!
TENNIS LEGEND’S TAKE ON RUSSIA BAN
Tennis nice Billie Jean King urged Wimbledon on Wednesday to raise its ban on Russian and Belarusian gamers, saying “life is too short”.
Players from each nations have been barred from the Grand Slam final 12 months over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the event stripped of rating factors because of this.
The All England Club is contemplating whether or not to do the identical once more this 12 months however King referred to as on them to drop the ban.
“Just keep it the same way as the other ones are. Life is too short,” she instructed reporters on the Australian Open. “I think they should get prize money. Just have them play and get their money.” Players from Russia and Belarus are competing on the Australian Open as independents beneath a impartial white flag.
Two Belarusians – Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabelenka – are into the semi-finals and will meet in Saturday’s title match.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan can also be within the final 4, regardless of being seeded solely 22 after lacking out on rankings factors for profitable the most important.
“It’s the ranking points, for sure. They have to have it. Rybakina, they’ve seeded her 22, but because she won Wimbledon she’s not (seeded higher),” stated King.
DJOKOVIC ISSUES CHEEKY CHALLENGE TO FEDERER
Roger Federer could now not be on the ATP Tour however that hasn’t stopped his adversaries from protecting a detailed eye on what he’s doing.
And on the subject of Novak Djokovic, the aggressive rivalry nonetheless exists – even when it could play out in one other sport.
Fresh off his quarter-final smashing of Russian Andrey Rublev, Djokovic gave a shout-out to Federer in his post-match interview and issued a cheeky problem to the Swiss celebrity.
“Let’s give a big round of applause to Roger guys,” he stated.
“Tennis misses him for sure. I’ve seen him dressing up very sharply for fashion week.
“Yeah, I‘ve seen him skiing. I want to challenge him to a little skiing race in few years’ time.
“But yeah, he‘s enjoying life for sure. It’s nice to see that.
“Obviously for tennis, he’s been one of the most important players ever to play the game. So, big regards to him and his family.”
While we might love one final Djokovic v Federer showdown on the tennis courtroom, the snow could be all we are able to hope for.
Originally printed as Australian Open Day 11 reside scores: Women’s semi-finals
