Tennis • The Good

Racketeering: The Australian Open Semis

Good gosh almighty, who the hell is Marcos Baghdatis and just what is a Cypriot? David Nalbandian found out on Thursday when Baghdatis came from 2 sets down to upset the reigning Master’s Cup champion and 4 seed. Nalbandian started out on fire winning the 1st set and up 5-1 in the 2nd before Baghdatis came back to tie it up 5-5 in the 2nd. He lost that one eventually but came back to take the next 3 and make it to the finals against the winner of Friday’s semifinal matchup beteween Roger Federer and the racket-throwing Nicolas Kiefer.

In the ladies semis Maria Sharapova looked sharp (and hot, natch) in the winning the 1st set from Justine Henin-Hardenne. The Belgian and her pretty backhand came back to take the match (4-6, 6-1, 6-4), looking strong in earning a trip to the finals. They won’t be serving pomme frites and singing La Brabançonne, however, because her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters retired in the middle of the 3rd set against Amelie Mauresmo, advancing Mauresmo to her first Grand Slam final since the 99 Australian. Clijsters had won the 1st set 5-7, but Mauresmo took the next won 6-2 and was up a break in the 3rd when Clijsters tore her ankle all up.

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