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The 2021 tennis season has started as the 2021 Australian Open is underway. The Australian Open used to be one Grand Slam tournament that wasn’t impacted by COVID-19 in 2020, but that certainly is not the case this time around. The tournament used to be to begin with slated to start on Jan. 18 and run until the 31st, but officials determined to postponed it three weeks because of this.
As for the action, the star-studded field is headed by the world’s top player Novak Djokovic, who is having a look to win his third consecutive Australian Open title. Djokovic also has a men’s record eight Australian Open victories to his credit.
Rafael Nadal had a chance to make some history of his own. Nadal is tied with Roger Federer for the most men’s Grand Slam singles title, but will overlook the possibility to receive ahead after losing to No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinal. Federer, then again, is lacking the Australian Open as he recovers from a serious knee injury. The Swiss star plans to go back in March at the Qatar Open.
On the women’s side of the bracket, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin came into the tournament as the fourth seed, but missing to Kaia Kanepi in the second one round (6-3, 6-2). Ashleigh Barty entered as the top-ranked player in the women’s singles bracket. She missing in the quarterfinal to No. 25 Karolina Muchová.
Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 21
Men’s Singles / Last
Novak Djokovic whip Daniil Medvedev, (7-5, 6-2, 6-2)
Saturday, Feb. 20
Women’s Singles / Last
Naomi Osaka whip Jennifer Brady, (6-4, 6-3)
Friday, Feb. 19
Men’s singles / Semi-final
Daniil Medvedev whip Stefanos Tsitsipas, (6-4, 6-2, 7-5)Latest results
Thursday, Feb. 18
Men’s singles / Semi-finals
Novak Djokovic whip Aslan Karatsev, (6-3, 6-4, 6-2)
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Women’s singles / Semi-final
No. 3 Naomi Osaka defeats No. 10 Serena Williams, (6-3, 6-4)No. 22 Jennifer Brady whip Karolina Muchova, (6-4, 3-6, 6-4)
Men’s singles / Semifinal
No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas whip No. 2 Rafael Nadal, (3-6, 2-6, 7-6, (7-4), 6-4, 7-5)
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Women’s singles / Quarterfinal
No. 10 Serena Williams whip No. 2 Simona Halep (6-3, 6-3)
No. 25 Karolina Muchová whip No. 1 Ashleigh Barty (1-6, 6-3, 6-2)No. 22 Jennifer Brady whip Jessica Pegula (4-6, 6-2, 6-1)
Men’s singles / Quarterfinal
Novak Djokovic whip Alexander Zverev (6-7, (6-8), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6, (8-6))No. 4 Daniil Medvedev whip Andrey Rublev (7-5, 6-3, 6-2)
Monday, Feb. 15
Women’s singles / Fourth round
No. 1 Ashleigh Barty whip Shelby Rogers (6-3, 6-4)No. 25 Karolina Muchová whip Elise Mertens (7-6, 7-5)No. 3 Naomi Osaka whip Hseih Su-wei, (6-2, 6-2)
Men’s singles / Fourth round
Aslan Karatsev whip No. 18 Grigor Dimitrov (2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2)How to watch the 2021 Australian Open
Dates: February 8-21
Time: Varies
Location: Melbourne, Australia
TV: ESPN
Stream: FuboTV