Serena Williams Loses…Djokovic Advances as Nishikori Withdraws
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams' bid for a record-tying 24th career Grand Slam will have to resume at the French Open. Williams lost her Australian Open quarterfinal to Karolina Pliskova, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Williams was one point from a berth in the semifinals when she turned her left ankle. Williams dropped the last six games, and Pliskova advanced to a semifinal against Naomi Osaka. The other women's semifinal will be two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova against unseeded American Danielle Collins.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open semifinals when Kei Nishikori retired in the second set after less than an hour of play. Djokovic was leading 6-1, 4-1 when the eighth-seeded Nishikori let the umpire know he couldn't continue because of a sore right leg. Djokovic will face No. 28-seeded Lucas Pouille (pwee) on Friday.
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai have set up a women's doubles final against defending champions Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic at the Australian Open. Stosur, who won the 2011 U.S. Open singles title, and Zhang beat Czech pair Barbora Strycova and Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 today. The second-seeded Mladenovic and Babos beat American pair Alison Riske and Jennifer Brady 6-4, 6-2.