Underdone Rodionova into semis

UNIMPRESSED with a key victory, Arina Rodionova scathingly assessed her Australian Open wildcard success over Queensland’s Olivia Tjandramulia as “two out of 10.”

In the midst of a training week in what is theoretically tennis’ brief pre-season, Rodionova limped into the semi-finals with a 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 margin.

But the top seed was clearly dissatisfied with the performance. “The match was a two out of 10,” Rodionova said. “I’m in the middle of my training week and also playing this tournament and I didn’t feel the best when I woke up and was pretty sore and needed some pain-killers to get through the morning.

“I started well and had enough energy to play aggressive and use my weapons but then I just died a bit in the second set and my legs were dead and I couldn’t do what I do best which is moving. I went away for nine games but I’m glad I managed to get back in time to still win the match.”

Tjandramulia, 20, snared the first break in the third set before Rodionova clawed her way to even terms before securing what ought to have been a terminal break in the eighth game.

Rodionova will meet Tammi Patterson in the last four after beating Naiktha Bains 6-3 4-6, 6-4. Second seed Destanee Aiava had to dig deep to hold off fellow Victorian Zoe Hives 6-2, 5-7, 6-0. Aiava will face Kimberly Birrell in the semi-finals after she beat Alexandra Bozovic.

The men’s semi-finals are scheduled for noon today.

Omar Jasika will play Alex de Minaur before top seed Alex Bolt takes on Marc Polmans.