Australian Open 2012: Final Fours Set As Djokovic, Murray, Sharapova, Kvitova All Advance

Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 Australian Open in Day 10 of competition by defeating No. 5 David Ferrer in straight sets. According to CNN, Djokovic was dealing with a leg injury during the match and also having difficulty breathing in Melbourne’s heat. Following his win over Ferrer, tennis analyst Jim Courier interviewed Djokovic about the breathing troubles, but phrased it in the stupidest way you can think of. No, stupider than whatever you’re thinking of right now. To his credit, Djokovic answered the question with the appropriate amount of condescension.

Djokovic is apparently not only the top-ranked tennis player in the world, but also No. 1 in giving tennis crowds deep belly-laughs! Watch him work that crowd!

The 2012 Australian Open has had its share of surprises thus far, but the men’s bracket has played out pretty much as planned. The top four tennis players have advanced to the semifinals with the last, Serbian player Novak Djokovic, punching his card to the next round with a three-set victory over No. 5 David Ferrer.

Djokovic didn’t exactly make it look easy considering it took him nearly three hours to down the Spaniard, but the tournament’s top seed was able to overcame a hamstring injury to win in straight sets (6-4 7-6(4) 6-1).

Andy Murray is into his third straight semifinal round at the Australian Open after downing No. 24 seed Kei Nishikori.

Murray, the tournament’s No. 4 seed, beat Nishikori 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in just over two hours and 10 minutes. Murray won 102 of the 172 points played, hitting backhand winners and solid volley.

The women’s quarterfinals are in the book after Day 10 action at the 2012 Australian Open in Melbourne. The semifinals are now set and will feature three Top-Five women’s tennis players.

One of those players prevailing in a quarterfinals match was Russian-born No. 4 seed Maria Sharapova, who squared off against fellow countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova. Sharapova had little trouble dispatching of Makarova, defeating her in straight sets of 6-2, 6-3.

Sara Errani’s unlikely run at the 2012 Australian Open came to an end on Day 10, when she was defeated by No. 6 seed Patra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals. Both women played exceptional tennis in the tournament but the unranked Errani finally met her match when she was defeated in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Kvitova was only the second ranked opponent that Italian player Errani had faced in the tournament. Errani has had a reputation of wilting against top players in the past, but she played solid tennis during the match. Both women had one ace each, Errani only had one double fault to Kvitova’s two and her 25 unforced errors were nearly half that of Kvitova’s 44. Kvitova had the edge overall, however, getting the winners when it counted.