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MELBOURNE. — Serena Williams’s bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title was brought to a halt in sensational style at the Australian Open tennis tournament yesterday by Karolina Pliskova, but fellow former champion Novak Djokovic cruised into the semi-finals. The American great had beaten world No. 1 Simona Halep in the fourth round but folded against the tall Czech seventh seed, who saved four match points before winning 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 under the hot Melbourne sun.
Her reward is a clash against Japan’s Naomi Osaka for a place in the final, after the Japanese fourth seed brutally swatted aside the injured Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-1.
World No. 1 Djokovic enjoyed an early night when courageous Kei Nishikori retired with a thigh strain when losing 6-1, 4-1 after going through three five-set epics during the tournament. — AFP.
Online Reporter