MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Defending champion Roger Federer reached a record seventh Australian Open final when South Korean Chung Hyeon retired injured in the second set of yesterday’s semifinal, trailing 6-1 5-2.
The 21-year-old Chung, who stunned six-time winner Novak Djokovic in the fourth round, was forced to call it quits two games after being treated for a blister on his left foot.
“I thought the first set was normal,” Federer said. “I couldn’t tell what was going on with my opponent.
“In the second set, I felt he was getting slower. He’s had a problem with the blister. It hurts – a lot. At some point it’s too much and you make things worse.
“Clearly I’m happy to be in the final – but not like this. He’s had such a wonderful tournament.”
Federer, chasing his 20th grand slam title, will face Croatian sixth seed Marin Cilic in tomorrow’s final.
Earlier in the day, Hungarian Timea Babos and France’s Kristina Mladenovic claimed their first grand slam title together, defeating Russian pair Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-3 in the women’s doubles final.
India’s Rohan Bopanna and Timea Babos of Hungary progressed to the mixed doubles final, defeating Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner and Spain’s Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 7-5 5-7 (10-6) on Margaret Court Arena.
The fifth-seeded pair will meet Croatian Mate Pavic and Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski in the final.
