Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/315708
ITFWORLD SPRING 2014 29 www.itftennis.com Radwanska's artful 61 57 60 quarterfinal upset of defending champ Azarenka induced visions of Evonne Goolagong. But just when we were pencilling in a Li-Radwanska final, the Pole went MIA in the semis. Not for the first time, Radwanska failed to take advantage of a favourable draw. The Big Three of women's tennis didn't progress past the quarters. An underdone Sharapova, at her second event since August, hit the wall against Cibulkova. Azarenka, at her ruthless best in a 63 62 schooling of Sloane Stephens, was marionette to Aga's puppet master in the last eight. And No. 1 Serena Williams exited fourth round, felled by a back injury and a resurgent Ana Ivanovic. Shock stat: Serena's best finish in Melbourne since her last title in 2010? One quarterfinal. Li sealed her legend as Asia's first Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros in 2011, but nowhere is China's game-changer more adored than in Australia. Hers is the smiling, successful, truth-in-advertising face of the Australian Open as the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific. In her victory speech Li thanked her agent "for making me rich". She has enriched the game even more. Upsets abounded in the men's doubles. No. 14 seeds Lukasz Kubot and Robert Lindstedt won the title in their first Grand Slam pairing, over Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen 63 63. The unseeded American-South African duo stunned top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the third round. Mixed champions Kristina Mladenovic, 20, and the evergreen Daniel Nestor, 41, didn't drop a set en route to their second major success. The reigning Wimbledon champs won 63 62 over Sania Mirza and Horia Tecau. Only in the women's doubles was the formbook followed. Top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci overcame Russian third seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 64 36 75 in a quality final. The Italians fought back from 2-5 down in the decider to defend their title. Robert Lindstedt and Lukasz Kubot lift the men's doubles trophy Women's doubles repeat winners Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci Agnieszka Radwanska ousted 2013 winner Victoria Azarenka Roger Federer set a new record for consecutive Grand Slam appearances First-time Grand Slam quarterfi nalist Grigor Dimitrov Temperatures reached more than 40 degrees Celsius in the fi rst week of the tournament