In that same event, the two played against one another in an epic Berdych also owns the only previous contest between the two at the Australian Open, defeating Wawrinka in four sets during the third round of the 2009 competition despite dropping the first set 6-4. His ground strokes have been powerful, his serve is dialed in and the determination he showed in besting Djokovic should keep him focused and grounded against Berdych.In addition to that solid form, Wawrinka has been the beneficiary of some good fortune Down Under as well. "And the prospect of beating Chinese veteran Li Na in the final ..."She is a great player. Just as he did against Djokovic, Wawrinka will look to use his powerful ground strokes to keep Berdych from getting comfortable throughout the match, and will count on his strong serve to escape trouble when it arrives. After finally passing his Novak Djokovic test, Stanislas Wawrinka finds Tomas Berdych standing in between him and a first-ever Grand Slam final in the 2014 Australian Open. Cibulkova, of Slovakia, belied the seedings in her 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska to make her first grand slam final. Li Na defeated Dominika Cibulková in the final, 7–6 (7–3), 6–0 to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 2014 Australian Open.Li became the first Asian Australian Open champion and sixth woman to win the title after being match point down (in the third round against Lucie Šafářová). 6:18 a.m.
It's how I play. The five-time ATP winner was spared a third-round match in high heat when scheduled-opponent Vasek Pospisil was forced Whether by his own racket or some good old fashioned luck, Wawrinka is putting together a career run at the Australian Open, and it will certainly take a strong performance from Berdych to derail it.While his run to the Australian Open semifinals has been largely overshadowed by upsets and mayhem Down Under, few players have been as dominant during this fortnight as Berdych has.That strong form was on full display as Berdych essentially dominated David Ferrer on Tuesday, losing only five games in the first two sets before slipping up and losing the third set. The focus sharply turns to Thursday night's semi-final. Given that, if Berdych can wear down the No. 2014 Australian Open: women's semi-finals preview. ET | Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3 to advance to his third Australian Open final. He rebounded to close out the match 6-4 in the fourth to earn his first Australian Open semifinal.Like his upcoming opponent, Berdych has been solid in just about every facet of the game. Dominic Thiem made a significant breakthrough at the Australian Open on Wednesday night, upsetting World No. AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2014: Results from men's and women's singles. Wawrinka defeated Djokovic in yet another five-set thriller on Tuesday, ending the Serbian’s three-year reign as Australian champion, and avenging his loss to him in last year’s round of 32 Down Under. The focus sharply turns to Thursday night's semi-final.The 2011 French Open champion is into her fourth grand slam final - and third at Melbourne Park after losing title matches to Kim Clijsters in 2011 and Victoria Azarenka last year, both in three sets. I was really looking up to her when I was younger playing juniors," Cibulkova says.Through to the final ... Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia. It's my gift. "Hopefully he can make it. Not only had the Serbian bounced him from the 2013 Australian Open, he got the better of him in another five-set battle in the semifinals of last year's U.S. Open.As evidenced by his quarterfinal victory, the Swiss native is definitely working with his A-game in Australia. He also understands that he is on the doorstep of a great opportunity and doesn't have to go through one of the game’s top three players to reach just the second Grand Slam final of his career.Given what’s at stake, the Czech native will be hard pressed to remain patient against his familiar opponent, yet that’s exactly what he needs to do if a first-ever trip to the Australian Open finals is forthcoming.Wawrinka expended a ton of energy in his upset victory over Djokovic, and Berdych would do well to extend as many points as possible and to utilize his solid return game to make the Swiss star earn every point on his own serve.The majority of the matches these two have played against one another have been close, and there’s little reason to expect this semifinal to be any different. Federer, who has reached his 11th consecutive semifinal at the Australian Open, said he'd love to see an all-Swiss final at Melbourne Park.
2014 Australian Open TV coverage and schedule for Thursday's matches The semifinals are set to begin at the 2014 Australian Open. Yet if he can’t quite square his sights on the matter at hand, it will be difficult to get past his familiar Czech Republic foe.That said, Wawrinka has never reached a Slam final before and the significant potential of getting there this time around should have his attention squarely fixed on Berdych with Djokovic a distant image in his rear-view mirror.For his part, Berdych has now reached the semifinals in How the Czech native handles that pressure, and just how dialed in Wawrinka will be, are the key components to how the semifinal match will play out.Assuming his head is in the game, Wawrinka enters Thursday’s semifinal against Berdych riding a wave of momentum and with all the confidence needed to realize his first-ever trip to a Grand Slam final.The 28-year-old has been playing some of the best tennis of his life during the past year and seems to have put it all together during this trip Down Under. "I was born with it. "(But) when I won my serve on 5-2, I knew I was going to do it.What about your on-court energy?