26/01/2012 03:06 CEST - AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The Semifinal in numbers
TENNIS – Seven of the top eight seeds of the men's and women's draw are in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Roger Federer is one semifinal away from Connors' record (31) and he is the only player that hasn't dropped a set in the tournament so far. In the women's draw, Kim Clijsters has played the most semifinals in a Grand Slam (16). She has won 8 and lost 7 so far. Stefano Rosato e Guido Tirone translated by Paul Sassoon
Seven of the top 4 seeded players in the men's and women's draw are in the semifinals of the 2012 Australian Open. The top 4 seeds in both draw's have never reached the semifinals in this tournament in the same year. So this Australian Open has equaled the record (in the years of double seeding, domestic and foreign, the top two of each category were considered): 1926, 1930, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1988 e 1993. Its the third time in the Open Era and the first since 1993.
Men
The top four seeds qualified for the semifinals in the men's draw. This happened thirteen times before (for the years of double seeding, domestic and foreign, the top two of each category were considered): 1930, 1934, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1988 e 2005.
Federer is in the semifinals without dropping a set. Its an extraordinary result and should he finish the tournament without losing one it would be the 8th time this has happened: Tony Wilding (1909), Rodney Heat (1910), Pat O'Hara-Wood (1923), Don Budge (1938), John Bromwich (1939), Roy Emerson (1964), Ken Rosewall (1971) e Roger Federer (2007), but in 2007 Federer played 7 rounds.
The highest number of Grand Slam semifinals played is 31 by Jimmy Connors, at the Australian Open 11 by Jack Crawford.
Djokovic reaches the 20th place in the all time Grand Slam semifinalists list with 14 alongside Bromwich, Drobny and Wilander. He won 6 and lost 7 of his previous semifinals. At the Australian Open his record is 2-0.
Murray will play his 9th semifinal putting him in 40th position in the all time Grand Slam semifinalists list with Lawford, Budge, Hoad and Cooper. His previous record at Grand Slam semifinal level is 3-5. Its his third at the Australian Open (2-0).
Roger Federer has achieved his 30th semifinal and is just 1 away from Jimmy Connors record of 31. His record is 23-6 so far. It is his 9th in Australia and is in second, place with John Bromwich, in the total number of Aussie semifinals behind Jack Crawford (11). His record is 5-3. If he defeats Nadal he will have won 233 Grand Slam matches equaling Connors record. He holds the record for the most matches played (71) and won (63) at the Australian Open.
Rafael Nadal will play his 18th semifinal alongside Rod Laver and Boris Becker and 13th overall. His semifinal record is 14-3. Its his third Australian Open semifinal (1-1).
We must not forget the percentage of matches won in a Grand Slam event by the Fab 4 (for the all-time list only players that have played 50 or more matches were considered): Djokovic 115-24 (82.7%, 15th all-time); Murray 83-24 (77.6%, 42°); Federer 232-34 (87.2%, 7°); Nadal 148-20 (88.1%, 5°). Don Budge has the best record, 58-5 (92.1%).
Women
3 out of 4 of the top seeds have reached the semifinals like last year. !993 was the last year that all four top seeds made it to the semifinals (it happened 11 times overall).
Every semifinalist has dropped at least a set, Sharapova was the last player to win the trophy without losing a single set in 2008.
Chris Evert has played the most semifinals at Grand Slam level (52), at the Australian Open Margaret Smith has the record (12).
Kim is going to play her 16th semifinal in a major and she equals Margaret Osborne Du Pont in 21st place in the all-time list. Her record is of 8 wins and 7 losses so far. Its her 7th semi in Melbourne putting her in 9th place overall with Esna Boyd and Evonne Goolagong. Her record is 2-4.
Victoria Azarenka plays her second semifinal (0-1), first in Australia.
Its Maria Sharapova's 13th Grand Slam semifinal (31st all-time). Her record is 5 wins and 7 losses and its her 5th semi at the Australian Open (2-2).
Petra Kvitova is playing in her 3rd semifinal at Grand Slam level (1-1). Its her first Down Under.
Finally lets take a look at the percentage of matches won in a Grand Slam events by the 4 semifinalists (for the all-time list only players that have played 50 or more matches were considered): Clijsters 128-28 82.1%, 19th); Azarenka 57-24 (0.704, 77°); Sharapova 121-31 (pct 0.796, 29°); Kvitova 33-13 (0.717). Helen wills has the best record, 125-3 97.7%.
Stefano Rosato and Guido Tirone
Some Tommy highlights for the Haas addicts out there...
- Ann Liguori's column each week as she covers the world of sports
For more information, visit www.annliguori.com
"I've got £10m in prize money but I'd pay it all back to win at Wimbledon"
Andy Murray before the Championships
January 20, 1920
Rebound Ace, the controversial court surface of the Australian Open since 1988, is thrown under microscope and criticized as two players, Gabriela Sabatini and Mark Woodforde,suffer ankle injuries that force them to leave the court in wheelchairs in third-round matches.
From "On this day in Tennis History" by Randy Walker
