Australian Open: A look ahead to Saturday and Friday recap

Posted January 26, 2018 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Romania's Simona Halep celebrates after defeating Germany's Angelique Kerber in their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) The Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - A glance at the Australian Open:

LOOKAHEAD TO SATURDAY

There'll be a first-time major winner after the Australian Open women's final, with top-ranked Simona Halep and No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki vying for a breakthrough Grand Slam singles title.

Both will be playing their third final at a major, and their first in Australia. The winner also is assured of being No. 1 when the next rankings are released.

Both have saved match points to reach the final - with Halep having to do it in the third round and in the semifinals.

Halep, who has lost two French Open finals - including last year when she led by a set and a break - says she's had a change of mentality at Melbourne Park. "I was not afraid of losing," she said after her win over semifinal win over 2016 champion Angelique Kerber. "I won those balls, and then I got the confidence back that I'm still alive and I can do it."

Wozniacki, who has lost two U.S. Open finals, says "I always believed in myself. I was just giving myself time. I think if you don't feel like you can go all the way in tournaments, then to me there's no sense in playing."

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SATURDAY FORECAST

Humid, partly cloudy, high of 32 Celsius (90 Fahrenheit)

FRIDAY'S WEATHER

Humid, rain showers, high of 29 Celsius (84 Fahrenheit)

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

Men's semifinals: No. 2 Roger Federer beat Hyeon Chung 6-1, 5-2 ret.

Women's Doubles: No. 5 Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos beat No. 2 Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 6-3.

STAT OF THE DAY

20 - Defending champion Roger Federer is targeting a 20th Grand Slam singles title after securing a spot in the Australian Open final against Marin Cilic.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"That's why this one feels bittersweet. I'm incredibly happy to be in the finals, but not like this." Federer said after he reached his record seventh Australian Open final when Hyeon Chung was forced to retire with bad blisters in the second set of their semifinal match.

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More AP coverage: www.apnews.com/tag/AustralianOpen

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki celebrates after defeating Belgium's Elise Mertens in their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) The Associated Press

Switzerland's Roger Federer gestures during a press conference following his semifinal win over South Korea's Hyeon Chung who retired injured at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) The Associated Press

South Korea's Hyeon Chung receives treatment from a trainer during his semifinal against Switzerland's Roger Federer at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill) The Associated Press

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