Denmark Caroline Wozniacki beat Simona Halep to win her first Grand Slam title and regain the number one ranking at the Australian Open. The second seed won 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-4 in punishing conditions to finally land a major title at the 43rd attempt. Eight years after her first Grand Slam final defeat, and 17 months after she was ranked 74th, the Dane was overcome.
Roger Federer cruises to a record seventh Australian Open when South Korean sensation Hyeon Chung retired in the second set of their semi-final encounter. The Swiss ace, who has 19 Grand slam trophies in his name, will now meet Croatian Marin Cilic in the final on Sunday. By qualifying for the final, Federer has become the oldest person since 1972, to play in the final.
World number two and Swiss maestro Roger Federer eased into the Australian Open quarter-final even as he breezed past training partner Marton Fucsovics 6-4, 7-6, 2-2 to make the last eight for the 14th time. The Swiss maestro, 36, has made at least the last eight every year since 2004, bar a hiccup in 2015. “He played very well,” the 19-time Grand Slam champion said of the Hungarian. “You needed to have quick ideas and execute well today.”
Rafael Nadal breezed past Leonardo Mayer in straight sets as he made his way into the third round of the Australian Open. Nadal, the 2009 Australian Open winner and a four-time finalist at Melbourne Park, showed he was not troubled by his recent knee issues to beat Leonardo Mayer in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in two hours and 38 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
World number five Venus Williams and US Open champion Sloane Stephens were high-profile casualties on day one of the Australian Open Monday, but Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko survived. Williams, who lost in the final to sister Serena last year, was stunned by Swiss star Belinda Bencic, fresh from winning the Hopman Cup with Roger Federer.
Rafael Nadal has been seeded top in next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne, with six-time champion, Novak Djokovic seeded 14th, organisers said on Thursday. Defending champion Roger Federer is seeded No 2; with Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki seeded one and two in the women’s competition.
