Melbourne. America’s Tommy Paul defeated his compatriot young Ben Shelton by 7. 6, 6. 3, 5. 7, 6. 4 to enter the men’s singles semi-finals of the Australian Open. Paul has so far reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in 14 attempts. His mother was present in the audience to encourage him. Paul is the first American since Andy Roddick (2009) to reach the Australian Open semifinals.
Roddick was also the last American to win a Grand Slam men’s singles title, having won the US Open two decades earlier. Paul will next face 21-time Grand Slam singles winner Novak Djokovic, who beat fifth seed Andre Rublev 6-6 in a one-sided match. 1, 6. 2, 6. Defeated by 4. This is Rublev’s seventh loss in seven matches in the Grand Slam quarterfinals. Stefanos Tsitsipas will take on Karen Khachanov in the other semi-final. In the women’s category, unseeded Magda Linette of Poland beat Karolina Pliskova 6. 3, 7. Entered the semi-finals by defeating 5.
Linette, who had lost her last nine matches against Pliskova, had earlier defeated Anett Kontavet, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Carolina Garcia. She will now face fifth seed Arina Sabalenka, who defeated unseeded Donna Vekich 6-1. 3, 6. beat by 2. Two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka will face Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the other semi-final. Rybakina defeated top seed Iga Swiatek.
