Sheer destruction

Novak takes apart Koubek, rolls into semifinals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -- Czech Jiri Novak cruised into his first grand slam semifinal at the Australian Open on Tuesday, blasting Austria's Stefan Koubek off the court 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in only 85 minutes.

The 26th seed made light work of Koubek, ranked 65th in the world.

"I still can't believe this is happening today. It is just an unbelievable feeling," Novak said.

"I think that I was playing so well today...I know Stefan very well and it was a very hard match for me mentally. It was the first time on the center court for me in a quarterfinal...I was very nervous."

Koubek had come back from two sets down in his first and second round matches and finally ran out of steam on the Rod Laver Arena centre court.

Novak, the first Czech semifinalist at a grand slam since Petr Korda won in Melbourne in 1998, will face Swedish 16th seed Thomas Johansson for a place in Sunday's final.

"I have got nothing to lose now," he said. "He is ranked higher than me...beat me the last time we played. I am looking forward to playing him."

 

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