MINSK, 26 January (BelTA) – Belarus' Max Mirnyi and his new partner Treat Huey of the Philippines have failed to reach the 2016 Australian Open semifinal, BelTA informs.
In the quarterfinal game on 26 January 14th seeds Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey lost to Canada's Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in two straight sets 4-6, 4-6.
In the men's doubles opener the Belarusian-Philippine duet fought through Alexander Bury of Belarus and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. They then defeated Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci and Marcelo Demoliner 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 and saw off the Indian-Romanian tandem of Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea (4th seeds) 6-4, 6-3.
Max Mirnyi reached the Australian Open final in 2007. Then he and Swedish Jonas Bjorkman lost to Bob and Mike Bryan of the United States 5-7, 5-7.
In the women's singles draw Serena Williams of the United States beat Russian 5th seed Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-1 to reach the semifinal. The American will face Poland's 4th seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the last four. Belarus' number one Victoria Azarenka (World No.16) will play her quarterfinal game against Germany's 6th seed Angelique Kerber on 27 January. The Belarusian has beaten Kerber in their six previous encounters. On her way to the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinal Victoria Azarenka secured the double bagel against World No.43 Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium 6-0, 6-0, took a solid win over World No.54 Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-1, 6-2, cruised pass Japan's Naomi Osaka (World No.127) in straight sets 6-1, 6-1, and defeated Czech 48th seed Barbora Strycova 6-2, 6-4.
Victoria Azarenka is a two-time champion of the Australian Open (2012, 2013).
The $32 million Australian Open 2016 will finish on 31 January.
