Google News Australian Open: Ivan Dodig, Filip Polasek stun No. 2 seeds to reach final
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 1818
No. 9 seeds Ivan Dodig and Filip Polasek recovered from a set down to stun second-seeded Nikola Mektic and Ante Pavic 4-6 6-4 6-3 and reach their maiden Grand Slam team final at the Australian Open. Dodig and Polasek, who were beaten in the 2019 Wimbledon semifinal and 2020 Australian Open, were a set away from losing in a Grand Slam semifinal for the third.
“For me, it was the third semifinal in a [Grand] Slam and the first time we made it through,” Polasek said, per the Australian Open website. “It was a huge relief and I am just super happy – today was a great match, the guys played very well, just few points decide[d it] and [I’m] happy it ended up for us”.
Dodig and Polasek made a comeback
After losing the first set, Dodig and Polasek claimed one break in each of the following two sets and lost no service games to create a comeback. “Today we found the small things, we didn’t give them so many easy points and that was the key of the match,” Dodig said.
“[I’m] really happy with this win”. Meanwhile, Australia's Sam Stosur and Matthew Ebden defeated Hayley Carter and Sander Gille 6-3 6-2 to set up an Australian Open mixed doubles semifinal against Desirae Krawczyk and Joe Salisbury.
“We're combining really well, we're enjoying it, we're having some fun,” said Stosur. Ebden added: “Obviously we know we're both accomplished players … singles, doubles, mixed doubles.
We sort of know what we're doing out there. Now we know how to do it together – so far so good, one by one, go again tomorrow”. Krawczyk and Salisbury defeated Andrea Klepac and Neal Skupski 6-3 6-4. “It’s our first semifinal together … we’re just really happy to have got this far and to be playing well together,” Salisbury said.
Krawczyk added: “We did play well in those big moments, I think Joe really served well, I think we just complement each other … it’s nice to get this far.' '