The Last Time a Romanian woman won a Grand Slam
1978 - It’s been a long time since a Romanian has won a major title, with the last time being 40 years ago. That year it was Virginia Ruzici at the French Open, defeating Slovenian Mima Jausovec 6-2 6-2 in the final. The Romanian would only drop one set that tournament in what was a dazzling run, however she would never reach another major final. Current world No.1 Simona Halep has reached two French Open finals in her career but fallen on both occasions. Should she defeat Angelique Kerber on Day 11 she will have her third chance at Grand Slam glory, will she take it?
The Last Time a Croatian made the Australian Open final
Never - In case you were wondering, there has been no Croatian player in history to make a men’s or women’s singles final at Melbourne Park. Yes Mario Ancic won the boys’ singles in 2000, Ana Kojuh the girls’ in 2013, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni hoisted the women’s doubles with Martina Hingis in 1998 and Ivan Dodig finished runner-up in the mixed last year, but none have gone that far in the singles draw. Marin Cilic has that chance on Thursday night when he meets Kyle Edmund. The 29-year-old has won a US Open and reached a Wimbledon final, can he advance to the championship match at his third different Slam here in Melbourne?
The Last Time Wozniacki played Mertens
2017 - These two have a knack for meeting in semifinals, with the pair’s only previous clash also coming in the final four of the tournament in Bastad at the end of August last year. Both players had fought superbly throughout the tournament, with only one of their combined matches being a straight sets win. As the pair met in the penultimate round it was the Dane who took the early lead before Mertens forced a decider. Wozniacki proved to be too clinical in the end, claiming a 7-5 4-6 6-2 victory. That encounter however, was on clay, which offers different variations of pace and speed than what the Plexicushion of Melbourne Park does, so who will that favour in Thursday’s first semifinal?
The Last Time Kerber met Halep
2016 - The last time these two met was in one of the most elite events on the WTA calendar. In 2016 Angelique Kerber was almost an unstoppable force, winning the Australian and US Opens while also reaching the Wimbledon final, which made the task difficult for Halep as they met in the round robin stages of the WTA Finals in Singapore. The German would run out a 6-4 6-2 victor as she made her way through to the final of the event, only to lose to Dominika Cibulkova in a thrilling encounter. Kerber has won four of her last five meetings with Halep and that will give her confidence heading into their clash on Rod Laver Arena on Day 11.
The Last Time Roger Federer lost to someone outside the top 50 at a slam
2013 - It is rare that the Swiss Maestro falls victim to someone outside the top 50 at a Grand Slam, with the last time being in 2013 at Wimbledon. The defending champion was stunned by world No.116 Sergiy Stakhovsky in four sets on a day that will always be remembered as the day the giants fell. World No.58 Hyeon Chung will have a tough task on his hands on Day 12, as Federer is 30-0 against players outside the top 50 since that day. The loss to Stakhovsky remains the only time that the 19-time Grand Slam champion has fallen to someone below 50 since the 2003 French Open.