Melbourne, Jan 27 (.) Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday produced ruthless performances to storm into the Australian Open semifinals amid a Melbourne heatwave.
But world No.3 Coco Gauff became the highest-seeded casualty of the tournament after being dispatched by Elina Svitolina in a major upset as the quarterfinals started on day 10.
Temperatures reached a searing 43 degrees Celsius in Melbourne, forcing the closure of the roof on the center court at Rod Laver Arena for two of the quarterfinals.
Alcaraz, however, was not fazed by the elements, with temperatures cooling by the time of his match in the night session.
The six-time grand slam champion wasted little energy and reached the final four in Melbourne for the first time after ending the dreams of Australian hope Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing every match. I’m increasing my level,” said Alcaraz, who has not dropped a set in the tournament.
Alcaraz will next play world No.3 Alexander Zverev, who edged American Learner Tien 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-6 (3) in three hours and 11 minutes.
“Without my aces, I wouldn’t have won today. Obviously very happy with my serve,” said Zverev, who rode 25 aces to continue his build towards an elusive grand slam title.
In the women’s draw, four-time major champion Sabalenka defied stifling heat in the middle of the day to end the exciting run of teenager Iva Jovic 6-3, 6-0 in 89 minutes.
“It was a tough match. Don’t look at the score, it wasn’t easy at all,” Sabalenka said modestly. “I’m super happy with the win.”
There had been an expectation that Sabalenka would square off in a semifinal blockbuster against rival Coco Gauff.
But the American was left stunned by 12th-seeded Svitolina, who capitalized on her opponent’s error-strewn performance 6-1, 6-2 in less than an hour.
“I’m very, very pleased with the tournament so far,” said Svitolina, who reached the semifinals for the fourth time at a major and the first since Wimbledon in 2023.
It was a dismal performance by Gauff, a two-time grand slam champion, who was plagued by unforced errors and misfiring serves.
She cut a dejected figure as she trudged off the court and was caught by television cameras repeatedly smashing her racquet in the aftermath.
“Just need to let the frustration out,” said Gauff, whose best effort in Melbourne was her semifinal finish last year.
“Usually I’m able to kind of scrap to make the scoreline tighter, and then you never know, nerves can come up on her. Today I just wasn’t able to do that.”
In the women’s doubles third round, China’s Zhang Shuai and Elise Mertens of Belgium beat the American pairing of Hailey Baptiste and Peyton Stearns in straight sets.
Quarterfinal action continues on Wednesday with two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner playing American Ben Shelton while 24-time grand slam winner Novak Djokovic takes on fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti.
In the women’s draw, world No.2 Iga Swiatek and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will clash in a blockbuster, while there is an all-American battle between Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula.
./XINHUA .
